Best Plants to Grow on a Balcony, Sorted by How Much Sun You Get

The best plants for your balcony depend on one thing more than anything else: how many hours of direct sun it gets. Get that right and almost everything below will thrive in a pot.

So I’ve sorted these picks by light, from sunny south-facing balconies down to shady north-facing ones.

For Full Sun (6+ Hours)

1. Cherry tomatoes

Compact varieties like ‘Tiny Tim’ stay under 2 feet and fruit happily in a 5-gallon pot. They’re the most rewarding thing you can grow on a sunny balcony.

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2. Peppers

Hot and sweet peppers love heat bouncing off walls and railings. One plant per 3- to 5-gallon pot is plenty.

3. Basil

Basil wants heat and sun. Pinch the tips often and you’ll get bushy plants instead of tall, flowering ones.

4. Rosemary and lavender

Both handle wind, heat and the occasional missed watering. I’d grow them in terracotta so the soil dries out between drinks.

5. Geraniums and petunias

For nonstop color from spring to frost, these two are hard to beat. They look great spilling over a railing planter.

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For Part Sun (3 to 6 Hours)

6. Lettuce and spinach

Leafy greens actually prefer a little shade, especially in summer. Sow a few seeds every couple of weeks for a steady supply.

7. Parsley, mint and chives

These herbs grow fine in morning sun. Keep mint in its own pot, because it takes over anything it shares with.

8. Strawberries

Everbearing strawberries do well in hanging baskets or tall self-watering planters, where the fruit stays off the floor.

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9. Fuchsia

Its dangling flowers are made for hanging baskets, and hummingbirds love them. It prefers morning sun and afternoon shade.

For Shade (Under 3 Hours)

10. Ferns

Boston and maidenhair ferns thrive on shady balconies. My guide to growing ferns outside in pots covers the details.

11. Begonias and impatiens

Both bloom all summer in shade, where most flowers give up. Impatiens need steady water, so check them often.

12. Coleus and caladiums

These grow for their leaves, not flowers, and bring bold color to dark corners.

For Windy, High-Floor Balconies

Wind dries plants fast and snaps tall stems. I’d lean on low, tough plants: rosemary, lavender, sedum and ornamental grasses.

Use heavy, wide pots, and save tall plants like tomatoes for the most sheltered corner.

Putting It Together

Mix a few edibles with a few flowers, and group plants that need the same water. For setup basics, see how to make a balcony garden.

Want more pairing ideas? Try these container plant combinations or a balcony herb garden.

Balcony Plant Questions