Some Like it Hot - Best Plants for Sunny Balconies

Balconies are a wonderful addition to a property that extends your inside space and can offer a glorious slice of the outside, but with far less work than a garden or even terrace. For many people with properties on the coast or abroad, this means a veranda in the sun with plants that may not get year round care. Fortunately there are plenty of flowers and plants that are heat tolerant and still thrive despite lack of water.

The plant of choice in many Mediterranean countries as they cope so well with a hot environment and will continue to bloom all year round with just a small amount of care – regular dead-heading will promote more flowering and plants can last years if sheltered during cooler months.

Perfect for arid climates, this plant group is diverse and varied from tiny, fleshy specimens to huge, architectural spiky giants. For those who are really unable to water regularly, these desert dwellers are perfect with some plants able to be left dry from November to the end of February, but still providing greenery and in some cases flowers too.

Super easy to grow and constant bloomers they will flower right through summer and winter. Humidity loving, their blowsy, bright flowers will provide a flamboyant display right up to the first frost of autumns.

This vibrantly coloured tropical climber can be grown in containers and actually grows better when it is slightly ‘stressed’ ie dry. It will need ample drainage holes, and the roots will grow into them so ensure the plant is elevated on bricks for example.

Not an obvious choice but another plant that loves sun and provides a lovely upwards spike, great to mix with another trailing plant. It will need shelter from strong winds and pruning in spring will encourage a bushier plant. Lavender will also provide a similar flower but with a wonderful scent too – that’s if you can cope with the bees that will come with it!

Though apparently considered ‘ugly’ by early Spanish explorers, Petunias are perfect for a hot, sunny balcony as they thrive in full sunlight. Available in a myriad of colours and designs; plain, striped, frilly, double, trailing, upright and also scented they will provide a sensational display as long as ‘leggy’ shoots are removed.