Newsletter Articles
Best Plants for a Balcony or Patio in Southern California
Written by Kelsey W.
The best plants for a balcony or patio are container-friendly ones matched to your light: sun-loving flowers and herbs (geraniums, petunias, lantana, rosemary) for a bright balcony, shade plants (impatiens, coleus, begonias) for a dim one, and trailing plants for the railing. In containers, the make-or-break is not the plant you pick but how you care for it: the right pot with drainage, a quality potting mix, and water often, because containers dry out fast.
Quick answer: Choose balcony and patio plants by how much sun the spot gets. For a sunny balcony: geraniums, petunias, marigolds, lantana, herbs, and succulents. For shade: impatiens, coleus, and begonias. For the railing: trailing plants like ivy geraniums and trailing petunias. Grow them in pots with drainage holes and quality potting mix, water often (daily in hot weather), and feed regularly, since frequent watering washes nutrients out.
| Balcony condition | Good plant picks |
|---|---|
| Sunny (6+ hours of sun) | Geraniums, petunias, marigolds, lantana, herbs, succulents |
| Shady | Impatiens, coleus, begonias, shade-loving ferns |
| Railing or hanging | Ivy geraniums, trailing petunias, trailing lantana, fan flower, sweet potato vine |
| Edibles (in sun) | Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and herbs |
Match Plants to Your Balcony Light and Wind
Light is the first thing to check. Put your containers where they get the sun the plants need, and remember most flowering plants and vegetables want at least six to eight hours of direct sun, while leafy greens and many shade plants get by on three to five hours.[1] Balconies have one extra factor a yard does not: wind. Up high, breezes dry out pots faster and can topple tall plants in light containers, so keep taller plants anchored and use a heavier mix (adding some sand increases the weight that keeps a pot from blowing over).[2] Remember too that a large pot full of wet soil is heavy, so place big containers where your balcony can take the weight.
Best Plants for a Sunny Balcony or Patio
A bright, sunny balcony is the easiest to plant. Geraniums (pelargoniums) are a classic container flower that bloom all season with about four or more hours of sun and are made for pots, window boxes, and patios.[3] Other reliable sun-loving annuals include petunias, marigolds, and lantana, all of which thrive in heat and bloom for months.[4] Herbs such as rosemary, basil, and thyme grow beautifully in sunny containers and give you something to cook with.[2] And for the lowest-water option, succulents love a sunny pot with good drainage and only occasional watering.[5] See our guide to drought-tolerant plants for more water-wise ideas.
Best Plants for a Shady Balcony or Patio
A north-facing or shaded balcony is not a dead end; it just calls for shade lovers. Impatiens, coleus, and begonias are among the best container plants for shade, giving you color (impatiens and begonias) or bold foliage (coleus) without much sun.[6] Shade-loving foliage such as ferns also does well in a sheltered, bright-shade spot. For leafy, low-light houseplants that can move outside to a shaded patio, see our guide to lush houseplants for patios, balconies, and small spaces.
Flowers for a Balcony Railing
For a railing or hanging basket, you want trailing plants that spill over the edge. Set trailing plants at the edges and keep bushier, upright plants toward the center.[7] Great trailers include ivy-leafed geraniums (whose branches trail like vines), trailing petunias, trailing lantana, and fan flower (scaevola), all excellent in baskets and window boxes.[7] Sweet potato vine is another fast, cascading foliage plant for a sunny railing.[2] For more ideas, see our guide to the best flowering plants for hanging baskets.
Container Care: The Key to Success
This is where balcony gardens are won or lost. Start with a container big enough for the plant’s roots, and make sure it has drainage holes; all containers need them to keep roots from sitting in water and rotting.[2] Fill it with a quality potting mix rather than garden soil or topsoil; a soilless mix drains and holds water far better in a pot.[1] Then water often: containers dry out quickly and a mature pot may need watering once a day, or even twice a day in hot, dry weather.[7] Because all that watering washes nutrients out of the mix, feed your container plants regularly through the growing season.[1] One last thing: if a pot sits in a saucer, empty the saucer after watering so the roots are not left standing in water.[2] For help choosing the right mix, see our guide to container gardening and soil amendments.
Short on space but ready to grow? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location and our team will help you pick balcony and patio plants (and the right pots and mix) for your light, your space, and your schedule.
Balcony and Patio Plants FAQ
What are the best plants for a balcony?
Match them to your light. For a sunny balcony, geraniums, petunias, marigolds, lantana, herbs, and succulents all do well; for shade, choose impatiens, coleus, and begonias. Grow them in pots with drainage and water often.[1]
What grows well in pots on a balcony?
Flowering annuals, herbs, succulents, and even vegetables grow well in containers as long as the pot has drainage and the light suits the plant. Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil.[6]
What flowers are best for a balcony railing?
Trailing plants that spill over the edge: ivy-leafed geraniums, trailing petunias, trailing lantana, and fan flower (scaevola). Plant trailers at the edges and bushier plants in the center.[7]
How often do you water balcony container plants?
More often than garden beds. Containers dry out fast, so a mature pot often needs watering once a day, and twice a day in hot, dry weather. Always let excess water drain away.[7]
Can you grow herbs or vegetables on a balcony?
Yes. In a sunny spot (six to eight hours), you can grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and herbs in containers; leafy greens manage with a bit less sun. Use a large enough pot with drainage.[8]
Sources
- [1] UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, Container Gardening: ucanr.edu
- [2] NC State Extension Gardener Handbook, Plants Grown in Containers: content.ces.ncsu.edu
- [3] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Annual Geranium (Pelargonium): hgic.clemson.edu
- [4] Missouri Botanical Garden, Ten Best Annuals for Sun: missouribotanicalgarden.org
- [5] UC Marin Master Gardeners, Succulents and Low Water: ucanr.edu
- [6] University of Georgia Extension, Gardening in Containers: fieldreport.caes.uga.edu
- [7] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes: hgic.clemson.edu
- [8] University of Maryland Extension, Growing Vegetables in Containers: extension.umd.edu
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