| With a balcony situation and in the city, a frequent problem is wind. Wind is very drying and so you may need to consider protection from that when setting out your plants. Another consideration is that afternoon sun can be very hot, especially when reflected off a building, so choosing plants that favor hot, dry conditions will probably increase your chances of having colorful plants in your planter. Echinacea (purple coneflowers) will grow to 3-4' tall and you can place different varieties, white coneflowers, or even Black Eyed Susans, which is another variety of the coneflower. Adding multiple colors of the coneflower will add visual interest. Another suggestion is Threadleaf Coreopsis, with intricate, thin as sphaghetti stems and tiny flowers. When it is in full bloom and you have 5 to 10 plants, it is like having a carpet of color. These are rather small in height and you probably want to place the Threadleaf Coreopsis near the front of your planter. Other suggestions include Salvia and catmint, yarrow and portulaca. Enjoy your balcony garden! |
