Looking for ideas to fill your terrace or balcony with plants? We give you 21 options

Posted By: Manuel Gaviño In: Plants and decoration Comment: 0 Hit: 3241

A selection of plants to enjoy your terrace during the summer. Color, aroma, freshness. In pots or planters they will give the most natural touch to your space.

With the arrival of spring, terraces, porches and balconies become the protagonists of our houses.

Nothing appeals to us more than sitting down to sunbathe in the afternoon or the cool of the early hours of the night when it starts to get hot.

And if we can also do it surrounded by our favourite plants, all the better.

Because those of us who are plant lovers don't need to have a huge garden: any place is good to fill with pots.

Now, it is important that you know which ones to choose.

That is because having plants on the terrace means having them exposed to the wind and the sun. This means that we must choose species that are very resistant and that withstand exposure to full sunlight (otherwise it is possible that some will yellow and begin to wilt).

Are you clear about which ones are the most appropriate?

If not, don't worry, because in this article we have made a compilation of some of the best plants to have on a terrace or balcony (even in the summer months). So you can leave them in the sun without fear of drying out.

Ready to turn your terrace into a mini garden?

The 5 types of plants to fill a terrace or balcony with life (and that resist the sun and heat very well)

To make it easier for you to choose the right species we have divided them into 5 categories:

  • Flowering plants.

  • Climbers.

  • Aromatic.

  • Trees.

  • Succulents and succulents.

We see them separately.

Terraza con flores

A. Flowering plants 

For those of us who live in the south, having a terrace, a balcony or even a window sill without flowers is inconceivable.

That is why flowering plants are the ones that top this list.

We are going to see some of the ones that best resist the sun.

1. Sunpatiens (Joy)

The name says it all.

Sunpatiens are a variety of Impatiens adapted to better withstand direct light.

These herbaceous plants stand out for the multitude of colours that their flowers can have, from red to purple (without forgetting the varieties with white petals). 

They are also a species that requires very little care and has developed great resistance to pests and diseases.

In climates with warm winters, they can bloom for most of the year.

2. Angelonia Angustifolia (Angelonia)

A species native to Mexico, capable of adapting very well to our climate (in fact, in the Mediterranean area it behaves as lively).

It is highly appreciated for the abundant amount of flowers that it develops during the summer.

It can survive in both full sun and semi-shade. Regarding watering, it is better to let the substrate dry completely before watering it again.

Angelonia is a short plant, whose flowers unfold in clusters that do not exceed 30 centimetres in height.

3. Arctotis (African Daisy)

Native to South Africa, the daisy is a plant that adapts perfectly to hot climates.

It is a robust species that hardly requires care.

During the spring and well into the fall, it displays huge flowers, with petals in red, orange or violet colours.

It needs a lot of light, but it is not demanding when it comes to watering. Two or three times a week is enough.

4. Silene (Carnation of the mount)

A very popular species for the beauty of its flowers.

The carnation blooms between spring and summer with small, delicate flowers that can display a large number of colours. In addition, if we can the flowers as they wither, new ones will appear.

During the summer the watering should be more abundant.

5. Gazania

The gazania is a ground cover species, suitable to have in coastal climates.

When temperatures rise, it displays unmistakable, large flowers with bicolour petals (which can be orange, yellow, white and even purple).

The most striking thing about this plant is that its petals close at night.

Like the daisy, it is native to Africa, so it is grateful to receive many hours of light.

6. Verbena repens (Verbena)

Perfect for those who do not have much time to care for their plants.

Verbena is a very rustic species, which resists the lack of water (in fact, if we overdo it, we can cause fungi to appear).

Its flowering is presented in a very characteristic bouquet shape.

7. Pelargonium Peltatum (Gitanilla)

A variety of geraniums cannot be missing from any Andalusian patio or balcony.

Gipsies not only can be fine in full sun, but they also need to be in direct sunlight for at least a few hours each day.

From spring they begin to develop their beautiful flowers.

These not only have very vivid tones (which combine perfectly with those of Sunpatiens), but they are also born in large numbers. In addition, abundant watering in summer, without flooding the substrate, favours flowering. 

If you grow them in a hanging pot the flowers will drop as a cluster of colour.

8. Dahlia (Dalia)

We cannot make a list of flowering plants for the terrace and leave out the dahlia.

The main attraction of this plant is precisely in its flowering, with large and superimposed petals (in the shape of a pompom).

It resists heat well, but if the winters are cold in your area, you should keep it indoors.

Trepadoras para terrazas

B. Climbers 

If we talk about the terrace and exterior, climbers play a leading role. They grow vertically, so they will hardly take up space, and they will be perfect to beautify our walls or to decorate a pergola. 

These are some of the most popular species.

9. Wisteria Sinensis (Wisteria)

One of the most popular outdoor hanging plants, especially when it comes to decorating a pergola or similar structure.

The most interesting thing about wisteria is its flowers, which fall in beautiful bouquets of mauve, purple or pink colours.

It loves to be in the sun, although it can also live in semi-shade.

10. Bignonia jasminoides (Bignonia)

Another climbing species that is also very well adapted to light and high temperatures.

Between summer and autumn bignonia gives us very showy flowers, trumpet-shaped and usually bicolour (white outside and purple on the inside of the tube).

Overwatering can be detrimental to this plant, so it needs a well-draining substrate. Otherwise it is not very demanding in terms of soil nutrients, although a rich soil will always make it flourish more.

11. Bougainvillea (bougainvillea)

Bougainvillaea is considered the climber of the quintessential summer.

This flowering shrub is often seen decorating walls and walls. In the warm months (or most of the year if we live in climates with mild winters) it displays a dense bloom of purple petals.

It is a plant that loves light and is undemanding to maintenance. In fact, it tolerates poor soils better than excessive compost.

Aromáticas para terrazas

C. Aromatic

Why do you need aromatic plants on your terrace? 

Simple: On the one hand, its relaxing aroma is ideal to sit at night to enjoy the cool night or to organize a meeting with family and friends. 

In addition, it is precisely that smell, which we like so much, that will keep mosquitoes and other undesirable guests at bay during the summer season.

Here are some of our favourites.

12. Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine)

Although this family of climbers is very broad, the Jasminum officinale is considered the quintessential jasmine.

It is a plant with highly perfumed flowers, perfect for covering pergolas, walls or trellises.

Pruning in winter will make the following season a strong plant with abundant flowering, which will last from spring until well into autumn.

The Jasminum officinale needs well-fertilized and well-drained soil and do best when located in an area with partial shade.

13. Cestrum nocturnum (Lady of the night)

The main attraction of the Dama de Noche resides in the fragrance that this plant gives off at sunset, when its flowers begin to open.

Of course, for it to flourish in all its splendour it needs to receive a lot of sun.

It is a very rustic shrub, capable of adapting to all kinds of conditions and poor soils. The only thing it asks for is that the soil has good drainage so as not to flood the roots.

14. Lavandula officinalis (Lavender)

Perhaps the most famous of the aromatic plants, lavender is a shrub from the Mediterranean area.

Its spike-shaped leaves give off a very characteristic pleasant aroma, which also has the ability to keep mosquitoes away.

It is a very rustic species adapted to drought conditions.

All we need to provide is very well-drained soil and a few hours of sunshine a day.

15. Culinary plants

If in addition to growing your plants you also do your first steps in the kitchen, culinary plants can be a good option for your terrace.

In this group, we can include some as common as thyme, basil or rosemary.

If you plant them in your pots, you will always have a handful of spices on hand to season your dishes (in addition to enjoying their characteristic aroma).

arbolitos para terrazas

D. Trees

Did you think that because you had a small balcony, you wouldn't be able to have trees?

It doesn't have to.

There are some species of trees that adapt to any size (you can even plant them in a pot).

Here are some ideas.

16. Kumquat (dwarf orange)

Kumquat is a dwarf fruit tree from China, whose maximum height is between 3 and 5 meters high.

Its fruits are very small oranges, between 2 and 4 centimetres, which have mainly ornamental value.

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