Gardens in the middle of London are a rare thing. If you live in the capital you’re much more likely to have a balcony - especially if your home is a flat.
Outside space, no matter how small, is precious, because despite the capital’s abundance of parks, having access to your own private retreat means you can pop out for a breath of fresh air without crossing your threshold.
Dressing your balcony will make it far more inviting, and the smaller the space you have to work with, the more challenging things become. Challenging, but not impossible.
There are all sorts of clever hacks to help transform your semi-private balcony area into a flourishing paradise. From wrapping the railings for extra privacy to adding solar-powered fairy lines to sparkling into the evening, a few choice touches promise to take your balcony to new heights.
In the absence of a lawn, a few hanging plants, pots and compact window boxes for small plants can bring nature a step closer to home too. Before you go sprinting down to your local garden centre there are a few things to remember.
Measure the area carefully so you know what size planters to shop for. Consider if you want to add a small bistro-style table and chair set for lazy mornings with a pot of coffee and the papers. Also carefully look at the balcony construction and ensure it can accommodate plants that may get heavier as they grow.
What to grow on a balcony garden
When it comes to choosing plants, a little research before you slap down your plastic is always a prudent thing. Track the sunlight around your balcony; north-facing flats get little, if any, direct sunlight so it’s wise to look for a low-maintenance thing like trailing plants (think English Ivy or Clematis) that you can put in a hanging basket or window box with the hope of it becoming a natural screen against the world beyond.
If you’re hoping to grow strawberries and tomatoes, get the biggest pot you can without it taking over your entire space so the fruit has plenty of space to grow.
Like the idea of growing your own herbs? They’re perfect for balcony gardens and will fragrance your space while also trimming down your shopping bill. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends chives, coriander, parsley and mint for shady spaces. Meanwhile choose basil, dill, rosemary and thyme for south-facing balconies that enjoy the sun for most of the day. And why not give London’s wildlife a helping hand by choosing pollinator-friendly seeds to grow in your outdoor space?
Whatever kind of greenery you’re after, we’ve rounded up the best options for your small space below.
From fruit and flowering plants to simple trailing varieties, here are the best plants to buy for your balcony - and all delivered right to your door.
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Tomato ‘Tumbling Tom Red’
Cultivate juicy tomatoes on tap with this packet of 20 tomato seeds. They will do well in window boxes, hanging baskets and pots and need to be planted from May with harvest season running until October. The plants will need a lot of sun though, so something to bear in mind if your balcony is a shady spot.
Buy now £3.95, Sarah Raven
Bloom & Wild The Citrus Tree
A delightful little summery variety to brighten up your balcony, this Meyer lemon tree is perfect as a table centrepiece. As you’d expect, it favours warm weather so one to show off in the warmer months.
Up to 40cm tall, the tree will arrive green and should slowly ripe to a bright yellow over a 12-week period - then you can use the fruit for cooking or to add a slice to your G&T. It comes with a booklet of care tips so you can get the best from your new plant baby.
Buy now £42.00, Bloom & Wild
The Little Botanical Hydrangea Bundle, Pink
Want to pretty up your balcony quickly? Flowering plants are the way to do it, and hydrangeas are ideal, with full heads in a variety of shades filling the space. You’ll need to use soil specifically for hydrangeas and use a spacious pot so they have plenty of room to stretch their roots.
It’s a good idea to start with a layer of pebbles and a pot with a hole at the base to allow for drainage. Dwarf varieties are particularly suited to small spaces like patios and balconies, but whichever you use they will need sun and partial shade.
Buy now £49.00, John Lewis
Patch Plants Fats
Fats is the perfect balcony plant if you don’t get lots of sunlight during the day, growing happily in most light conditions. The evergreen variety has glossy leaves and likes its soil to be kept wet, so regular watering is a must.
Reinforce it with a liquid fertiliser once a month over the spring and summer seasons. It’s also child and pet safe, so a great choice if you have curious little creatures wandering around the house.
Buy now £30.00, Patch Plants
Crocus Buxus sempervirens
For year-round green smartness, head to Crocus where you can pick up these tightly clipped box spheres in a variety of sizes to best suit your space. The manicured looks come in pots that range from 3 - 10 litres. They’ll do best in partially shaded areas and flanking doorways for ultimate impact.
From £39.99.
Buy now £39.99, Crocus
Patch Plants Ivy
If you like the thought of adding a natural screener to your balcony - especially useful if you’re on the first or second floor, or if you face another block - English Ivy is an excellent option.
The fast-growing evergreen plant can be set in a planter, hanging basket or windowbox and is practically unkillable, which makes it a fitting low-maintenance option for rookie gardeners. It enjoys rain, which is perfect for most of the year when drizzle prevails but keep an eye on soil dryness in the summer when warm weather can zap it.
From £8 - £25.
Buy now £8.00, Patch Plants
Calamondin Orange Tree
Houseplants are all good and well, but something that can flower, or better still, produce food, will really earn its keep. Find this Calamondin Orange Tree at Bloombox Club, which can happily sit inside the home as well as outside in the garden or on your patio.
The self-pollinating shrub will produce a small citrus fruit that’s a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange. It will need repotting at some point and will need to be kept indoors in a heated room above 12 degrees come winter; something to bear in mind.
Buy now £62.95, Bloombox
M&S Baytree in Tin With Slate
One for your porch or balcony, this delightful Bay Tree comes in a tall stylish planter along with a bag of slate chips to protect the soil. The evergreen plant will flourish year-round and is perfect to have on hand for adding flavour to slow-cooked dishes. This can be purchased as a gift with a bottle of bubbles as a suggested add-on.
Buy now £60.00, M&S
The Little Botanical 40 Herbs Outdoor Living Wall
Say goodbye to buying those sad little packets of plastic-wrapped herbs from the supermarket. This outdoor living wall puts your favourite varieties practically at your fingertips: think sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender, mint, lemon thyme, peppermint, purple sage, golden thyme, silver thyme, tricolour sage and more.
The planter has a clever watering system to ensure none of your herbs goes thirsty, and a purchase also comes with 10L of soil to get you started. If you have the space and money, and you love cooking, it’s a no-brainer.
Measures H100 x W120 x D15cm.
Buy now £380.00, John Lewis
