The best balcony flowers for the sunny side
For townspeople, landscaping a loggia or balcony is often the only opportunity to get closer to nature - it is both decoration, a way to cheer up, relaxation and easy work with the ground. In order for the plants to bring joy, they must be chosen correctly, for example, flowers for the sunny side must not only be light-loving, but also withstand direct sunlight.
Selection of flowers for growing in the sun
They must meet the following requirements:
- not be afraid of direct sunlight;
- grow quickly and reach the peak of decorativeness;
- develop normally in a limited pot, box, or other container;
- put up with a periodic lack of moisture;
- bloom continuously;
- do not require careful maintenance;
- respond well to mineral supplements.
The owners decide on their own what flowers to plant at home on the sunny side - there are many of them. The article will help you make the right choice - not everyone knows the features of a particular culture. Perhaps growers will pay attention to plants that were not previously considered as "candidates" for planting in containers.
Many annual bed flowers in their homeland are perennials. It is possible to keep the bushes until next season, but not all will bloom as abundantly as those grown from seeds or cuttings.
Petunia for the south balcony
When they ask the question which flowers are not afraid of direct sunlight, are able to maintain decorativeness all season and feel great in container culture, petunia is first of all remembered. There are several varieties with different growth patterns and corolla diameters.
Petunias have an attractive appearance, fragrant flowers are symmetrical, like a gramophone or a funnel with a long tube. Corollas with fused petals are double or simple, one-color, bordered or covered with stains. Coloring - any, except orange or deep yellow. Fragile stems and small whole leaves, pubescent. Shoot length varies from 20 cm to 2 m.
Large-flowered or grandiflora
This petunia is represented by many varieties, it is distinguished by the largest flowers, but the most difficult to care for. The diameter of the corolla in some cultivars reaches 12 cm, it is double-colored.
Plants on the balcony on the south side feel great. But large flowers can suffer from prolonged rains or strong winds.
To preserve the decorative effect, wilted buds must be regularly removed, and the bare stems must be periodically trimmed.
Multiflorous or multiflora
The flowers of this group reach 5-7 cm in diameter. They are not as beautiful as those of the petunia grandiflora, usually of one color, but they completely cover the bush, which looks especially impressive. The plant is not capricious, it is resistant to diseases and suffers less from weather disasters.
There are self-cleaning varieties - they do not need to pick off wilted buds.
Floribunda
It occupies an intermediate position. Corollas up to 10 cm in diameter, varieties differ in a variety of shapes and colors. They suffer from wind and rain, but not as much as grandiflora.
Petunia ampelous or pendula
Often used for vertical landscaping, balcony planting or hanging planters.Despite the long shoots, it is not used as a climbing plant - the twigs do not cling to the support, but hang picturesquely.
It is better not even to try to direct the pendula with a garter - the stems break easily.
It is divided into three groups depending on the length of the shoots:
- semi-ampel - up to 30 cm;
- ampelous - 35-80 cm;
- cascading - up to 2 m (usually about 1 m).
This group includes surfiniya - ampelous petunia bred by the Japanese company Suntory.
Erect flowers for the sunny side
Planting flowers that form a compact bush or spreading, but do not have flowing shoots for the sunny side are usually made in balcony boxes or pots. If you put them in hanging planters, the plant will be difficult to see, and will lose some of its attractiveness.
Gatsania
African chamomile forms a bush up to 30 cm high. Inflorescence is a basket 5-9 cm in diameter with a yellow center and bright petals: yellow, red, orange, white. They can be of the same color, but more often they are decorated with longitudinal strokes and a contrasting dark spot at the base.
Drought-resistant culture. One bush per season with satisfactory feeding and timely removal of wilted buds can produce up to 35 flowers.
If you leave a few gatsaniya for the winter in a bright cool place, in the spring the bush can be divided into outlets and planted. They will bloom earlier than those obtained from seeds.
Violet tricolor
You can grow pansies on the sunny balcony. This unpretentious miniature plant is distinguished by dark narrow leaves and an asymmetrical five-petal corolla up to 10 cm in diameter.
It seems that flowers are as unique as snowflakes - even on one bush their color is at least slightly different. It can vary from white to almost black - deep purple or burgundy, be monochromatic or combined, with spots or strokes of different sizes.
Longer and more abundant bloom of pansies grown in a two-year culture.
Tagetis or marigolds
Marigold varieties from 20 to 50-60 cm high are excellent flowers for a sunny loggia. They form an erect bush with feathery leaves, hollow stems, simple, semi-double or double inflorescences-baskets and a pronounced cylindrical blanket. Depending on the variety, tagetis flowers have a diameter of 1-6 cm, yellow, orange, brown.
When rubbed, all parts of the plant give off a strong pleasant aroma.
Since the root system of marigolds is pivotal, the pot or box must be chosen deep. To ensure the continuous formation of new buds, the “heads” that have lost their decorative effect are cut off.
Ampel flowers for the sunny side
The most popular plants for balcony planting are plants with bright buds and flexible stems that bend or fall beautifully below the edge of the container. They are called ampel or ampel. Many withstand direct sunlight perfectly.
Lobelia
A compact, dense bush with thin, densely branched shoots 10-20 cm long, completely covered with small two-lipped flowers with a diameter of no more than 2 cm.They are usually colored blue, violet or blue, but there are varieties with white and purple corollas, or stems reaching 1 , 5 m.
Flowering begins in June, lasts until September, and longer with good care. Lobelia usually planted with other plants, for example, geraniums, tagetis, petunias of contrasting colors.
The seeds germinate well, but when picking inexperienced growers often have problems. Lobelia seedlings are tiny, the stems are not separated one by one, but planted in individual cups in bunches.
Nasturtium or capuchin
Among the varieties there are vines, ampels and erect bushes with flexible shoots. In nasturtium, not only yellow, orange or red asymmetric funnel-shaped flowers are of decorative value, but also leaves.
Capuchin is not only an ornamental, but also an edible and medicinal plant.
Pelargonium or geranium
There are many species used as flower beds, container plants and houseplants. As flowers for the sunny side of the balcony, varieties of ampelous (ivy) geranium are of greatest interest.
The plant is a bush with shoots 25 cm to 1 m long, first ascending, then drooping. The flowers are collected in an umbrella, they can be simple, double, similar to not fully opened pink buds. Coloring - white, all shades of pink, red, to very dark burgundy.
The leaves are quite tough, smooth, like ivy. When rubbed, they emit a specific aroma. It is believed to soothe and relieve headaches.
Pelargonium ivy blooms almost continuously.
This is a perennial plant, with the onset of cold weather, pots can be brought into the house, and bushes can be transplanted into pots from the balcony box. To preserve decorativeness, it needs pruning the stems and removing wilted peduncles.
Climbing plants for a balcony in the sun
Perhaps this is the smallest group for landing on the loggia. It is necessary that the flowers not only withstand direct sunlight, continuously throw out the buds, but also grow quickly.
Sweet pea or rank
There are over 1000 varieties. The plant is widely used in vertical gardening and is appreciated for its pleasant aroma and abundant flowering. Flexible stems are decorated with light green paired leaves, at the top of which there are antennae clinging to the support. It branches weakly.
Flowers are collected in 3-7 pieces in a brush, asymmetrical, like a sail or moths. The buds appear from June-July until frost. Coloring - any, except yellow.
Sweet peas will not grow in a flat pot.
Morning glory
A liana about 5 m long with heart-like leaves is often called a loach. The flowers are like a gramophone, have a long stem and a pleasant smell. They are densely dotted with shoots, open only in bright sun, in cloudy weather they are closed. Blue, purple, blue, pink, red buds appear in early summer, replacing each other, decorate the southern balconies until frost.
Kobei
One of the most beautiful flowers for a balcony on the sunny side is the climbing fast-growing annual kobei shrub. Liana up to 6 m long, capable of clinging to brickwork or other irregularities. The leaves are beautiful, feathery, with 3 large lobes.
The flowers are bell-shaped, with a wavy edge of the corolla, up to 8 cm in diameter, on long legs. The buds are greenish-yellow, when fully opened they become white, purple, different shades of purple.
It is difficult to choose flowers for the sunny side - there are many of them, all are beautiful, most are easy to care for. Here it is important to observe the measure and make sure that the colors are combined, and the smells do not mix.