Specialcraft

Plant Guide

Your comprehensive resource for selecting and caring for plants perfect for British gardens and balconies.

Top 10 Plants for Small Balconies

Understanding your plants' needs is the key to a thriving garden. Use this guide to discover space-efficient beauties that flourish in containers and thrive in your specific balcony conditions.

Lavender plants in containers

Lavender

Full Sun Low Water Balcony

Aromatic and beautiful, lavender thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil. Perfect for adding Mediterranean charm and attracting pollinators.

Ornamental grasses in pots

Ornamental Grasses

Sun/Part Shade Moderate Water Balcony

Add movement and texture with compact varieties like Festuca. Low maintenance with year-round interest and architectural appeal.

Compact flowering perennials

Geraniums

Sun/Part Shade Moderate Water Balcony

Reliable bloomers that flower continuously through summer. Hardy, easy to care for, and available in numerous colors.

Herb garden in containers

Herbs (Rosemary, Thyme, Basil)

Full Sun Low-Moderate Balcony

Practical and beautiful, culinary herbs thrive on sunny balconies. Fresh ingredients right at your fingertips with minimal care.

Ferns and shade-loving plants

Ferns

Shade/Part Shade High Water Balcony

Perfect for shaded balconies, ferns add lush greenery and texture. Keep soil consistently moist for best results.

Compact flowering plants

Petunias

Full Sun Moderate Water Balcony

Vibrant, continuous bloomers ideal for hanging baskets and containers. Available in countless colors and patterns.

Essential Plants for Flower Beds

Create stunning borders with these reliable performers

Rose bushes in flower bed

Roses

Full Sun Moderate Water Flower Bed

Classic garden favorites offering fragrance and beauty. Modern varieties are disease-resistant and repeat-flowering throughout summer.

Echinacea and native perennials

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Full Sun Low Water Flower Bed

Drought-tolerant perennials that attract butterflies and bees. Long blooming period and striking architectural seedheads in autumn.

Hostas in shaded garden bed

Hostas

Shade/Part Shade Moderate Water Flower Bed

Shade garden champions with stunning foliage in various sizes and colors. Low maintenance and increasingly impressive each year.

Mixed perennial border

Salvia

Full Sun Low Water Flower Bed

Versatile perennials with spikes of colorful flowers. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and beloved by pollinators.

Daylilies in mixed border

Daylilies

Sun/Part Shade Low-Moderate Flower Bed

Remarkably adaptable and almost indestructible. Each flower lasts one day but plants produce blooms continuously for weeks.

Alliums and spring bulbs

Alliums

Full Sun Low Water Flower Bed

Dramatic spherical blooms on tall stems add architectural interest. Deer and rodent-resistant with impressive visual impact.

Seasonal Care Tips

Keep your gardens thriving all year round

Spring

Start feeding plants, divide perennials, plant summer bulbs, and begin regular watering as temperatures rise.

Summer

Deadhead regularly, water consistently during dry spells, mulch to retain moisture, and enjoy peak blooming season.

Autumn

Plant spring bulbs, divide overgrown perennials, cut back dying foliage, and prepare beds for winter.

Winter

Protect tender plants, plan next year's garden, order seeds and plants, and maintain tools for spring readiness.

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