EN 
Italiano
Slovenščina
Čeština
Deutsch
Magyar
polski
Slovenčina
A south-facing balcony looks like a gift, until July. Floor tiles and walls store heat, pots dry out within hours and temperatures on the balcony can be well above the forecast.
The answer is not more watering of the wrong plants, but plants that come from hot, dry places: Mediterranean herbs, succulents and tough summer flowers that bloom harder the more sun they get.
Below are ten plants that thrive on a sunny balcony, how much water each needs, and a few practical ways to keep pots from cooking in high summer.
The best plants for a sunny balcony are geraniums, purslane, gazanias, verbena, lavender, rosemary, thyme and oregano, sedums and other succulents, ornamental grasses, and chillies and tomatoes if you water daily. Use larger, light-coloured pots, water early in the morning, add a mulch layer and give pots shade from the hottest afternoon sun on extreme days.
Why is a sunny balcony difficult?
Six to eight hours of direct sun is ideal for many plants, but on a south or west balcony the sun is joined by heat reflected from walls, glass and tiles. A dark pot in full sun can heat the compost enough to damage roots.
Wind adds to it. On upper floors it dries leaves and compost faster than at ground level, so a balcony needs tougher plants than a garden bed in the same place.
Which flowers love full sun on a balcony?
1. Geraniums (pelargoniums)
The classic for a reason: they tolerate heat and short dry spells and flower from May to October. Ivy-leaved types trail over railings. Water when the top of the compost is dry and remove faded flowers. They can be overwintered indoors; see how to overwinter geraniums.
2. Purslane (Portulaca)
A small succulent annual with bright flowers that open in sunshine. It needs very little water and is one of the few flowers that truly enjoys a baking hot window box.
3. Gazania
Daisy-like flowers in orange, yellow and red that open only in sun. Drought-tolerant once established; ideal for the sunniest corner.
4. Verbena
Trailing or upright, flowering all summer in purple, pink, red or white, and popular with bees and butterflies. It needs regular watering but copes with heat.
5. Lavender
Silver leaves, scent and flowers from June. Lavender needs full sun, gritty compost and little water; too much water is a bigger risk than too little. More in lavender in pots.
Which herbs and edible plants suit a hot balcony?
6. Rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage
Mediterranean herbs develop the strongest aroma in strong sun and need watering only when the compost is dry. See rosemary in pots for care and winter protection.
7. Chillies and tomatoes
Both love heat and sun, but in pots they need water daily in summer and a large container of at least 10 to 15 litres for tomatoes. Our article on growing tomatoes on a balcony covers varieties and feeding.
Which tough plants need almost no water?
8. Sedums and other succulents
Stonecrops, houseleeks and echeverias store water in their leaves. In a shallow bowl with gritty compost they cope with weeks without rain. Echeverias must come indoors before frost; most sedums and houseleeks are hardy.
9. Ornamental grasses
Fountain grass (Pennisetum) and blue fescue (Festuca glauca) move in the wind, give height and need little water once established.
10. Lantana
A sun-loving shrub with clusters of changing colours from yellow to red, flowering all summer. It is not frost-hardy, and all parts are toxic to people and pets, so it is not for homes with small children or animals.
How much water do these plants need?
| Plant | Water in summer | Safe for pets |
|---|---|---|
| Geraniums | When the top is dry | No |
| Purslane | Little | No |
| Gazania | Little | Yes |
| Verbena | Regularly | Yes |
| Lavender | Little | Mildly toxic |
| Mediterranean herbs | When dry | Mostly yes |
| Chillies, tomatoes | Daily | Leaves no |
| Sedums, succulents | Very little | Mostly yes |
| Ornamental grasses | Little | Yes |
| Lantana | Moderately | No |
How do you keep pots from overheating?
- Use bigger pots. More compost holds more water and heats up more slowly.
- Choose light colours. A white or terracotta pot stays several degrees cooler than a black plastic one.
- Water early in the morning, and on very hot days again in the evening, at the base of the plant.
- Mulch the surface with gravel or bark to slow evaporation.
- Shade the hottest hours. An awning or shade sail between about 13:00 and 17:00 helps more than extra watering.
How do you fit more plants on a small sunny balcony?
Pots with water reservoirs bridge hot days and short absences. The Urban Planty Vertical Garden holds nine pots on a telescopic pole between floor and ceiling, on less than one square metre and without drilling, and each pot has a 300 ml reservoir. Place herbs and sun lovers at the top and more delicate plants lower down, where the pots shade each other. It costs €149 with free shipping. More about the vertical garden without drilling, and for a week away in July, how to water plants on vacation.
Frequently asked questions
What plants do well on a south-facing balcony?
Geraniums, purslane, gazanias, verbena, lavender, Mediterranean herbs, succulents and ornamental grasses do well on a south-facing balcony, because they tolerate strong sun, heat and short dry spells.
How often should I water plants on a sunny balcony?
Plants on a sunny balcony usually need water every day in midsummer, ideally early in the morning. Drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and Mediterranean herbs need water only when the compost is dry.
Which balcony flowers survive the most heat?
Purslane, gazania and geraniums survive the most heat among common balcony flowers, followed by verbena and lantana.
How do I protect pots from overheating?
Use larger, light-coloured pots, mulch the surface, water early in the morning and shade the pots during the hottest afternoon hours.
