5 plants to have lots of flowers on the balcony in the shade

Hey there, green thumbs!

Daniela here, ready to help you brighten up your shady balcony with some gorgeous blooms. Here are 5 fantastic flowering plants that thrive in the shade:

1. Impatiens: These colorful beauties bloom continuously from spring to fall. They come in various hues and are perfect for hanging baskets.

2. Begonias: Known for their waxy leaves and vibrant flowers, begonias are shade-loving superstars. They’re also low-maintenance!

3. Fuchsias: With their unique pendant-shaped flowers, fuchsias add a touch of elegance to any balcony. They’re particularly great for hanging planters.

4. Coleus: While primarily grown for their stunning foliage, some varieties produce small flowers. Their leaf colors range from deep purples to bright greens.

5. Lobelia: These dainty flowers come in shades of blue, purple, and white. They’re perfect for creating a cascading effect in containers.

Fun fact: Impatiens got their name from the Latin word for “impatient,” due to how their seed pods burst open when touched!.

What are the most suitable flowers for a shaded balcony? There are not many plants that grow luxuriantly even where sunlight comes for only a very short time, and especially most of it does not produce colorful, fragrant flowers–for buds, it is often necessary to have a direct sun source. However, if your balcony does not have a good exposure, that does not mean you have to give up a touch of spring. Let’s find out what are the best flowering plants That can also thrive in the shade.

The best plants for a balcony in the shade

We know well how much the sunlight is important for plants, however there are some that can grow well even in shaded or half-shaded conditions. Although there are not many of them, some of them also produce beautiful flowers: they are therefore ideal for those who have a north-facing balcony, or at least one that is not particularly sunny. In most cases do not require excessive care, they are easy to grow and give very colorful blooms. In short, perfect even for those who do not exactly have a “green thumb.” Here are what they are.

Hydrangea

Let’s start with thehydrangea, a beautiful plant with a fairly generous size and shrubby habit. Its large ball-shaped flowers possess a very special characteristic: depending on the acidity of the soil in which they are planted, they can take on different colors. And so, in the presence of a particularly acidic soil we will have flowers tending to blue or violet, while if we choose a basic or alkaline one they will be a thousand shades of pink. As far as exposure is concerned, the hydrangea prefers a place in semi-shade and well protected from direct sunlight. It is also best if the location is fairly ventilated.

La hydrangea care is not very demanding, but this plant has high water requirements. The soil must always be moist, so daily watering with rainwater, preferably at room temperature, is recommended. In summer you may even have to water the plant twice a day, morning and evening. Even in winter it is important to water, albeit with reduced frequency, because the soil may dry out easily. And speaking of the winter season: Hydrangea cannot tolerate temperatures dropping below 4°C, so it is best to find a sheltered place for when it is colder.

The anemone

Another balcony plant is theanemone, which includes over 120 different varieties (impossible, therefore, not to find the one that suits us). It usually grows wild in shady and fairly humid areas, so it is perfectly suited to a balcony that is not very sunny. The plant itself is not very large, but its flowers are stunning: they have shades that run from red to white to purple, often with different shades on the petals. What to know about its cultivation?

The anemone needs a moist, well-drained soil, possibly rich in nutrients. Exposure, as we have seen, must be in half shade: only in cooler areas can the plant be left in the sun for a few hours during the day. It does not have a great need for water, so a couple of waterings a week is enough to see it grow luxuriantly (increasing a little during the summer season). In winter, the plant should be kept indoors because it is particularly afraid of the cold.

Hellebore

If you love flowers in winter, thehellebore may be the right plant for you. Also known as the “Christmas rose,” it actually blooms during the holiday season and tolerates low temperatures well, fearing heat instead. Its beautiful flowers, usually white, pink or green, do not need direct sunlight at all: therefore, it is better to expose the plant to half shade, to prevent its leaves from burning. Beware of its maintenance, because it is a poisonous plant – so watch out for pets and children.

Hellebores do not need a lot of water, and indeed are particularly afraid of waterlogging. The following are sufficient a few waterings per week, taking only care that the soil never dries out completely. Often even rain is enough to supply its needs. That is why it is recommended to slightly increase watering during dry periods. In terms of fertilization, too, this plant does not have many demands. To stimulate its flowering we can use a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus in autumn.

Cyclamen

The cyclamen is one of the most suitable flowers for those without a green thumb, but it has a weakness: sun. This plant can withstand cold weather well, surviving even temperatures that drop a little below freezing, is not afraid of frost (especially if we have a smaller variety), and can stay both outdoors and indoors. However, best never expose it to direct sunlight, except when the heat has passed: in summer, therefore, it should always remain in the shade and in a fairly ventilated place.

As for its care, the cyclamen needs a only slightly moist soil: water stagnation causes it to rot quickly. Better to use rainwater at room temperature, every 3-4 days (or at least when the soil starts to dry out a bit). You can either water around the edges of the pot or put water directly into the saucer, leaving it to about 15 minutes And then removing it. This will prevent the plant from dying too quickly.

Astilbe

Have you ever heard of theastilbe? This is a distinctly distinctive-looking ornamental plant: its small, brightly colored flowers (ranging from lilac to pink and white) gather in panicles that resemble fluffy feathers. Native to Asia and North America, it does not require a particularly bright exposure to grow. In fact, it is best keep it in half or full shade, to prevent it from reaching excessive temperatures. In short, ideal to plant where many other flowers would not survive.

Astilbe needs a soil rich in organic matter, which should therefore be fertilized both at the time of planting (or planting) and in the days leading up to its flowering. Watch out for watering: the plant does not tolerate drought, so it should be watered frequently, even if with little water. During the summer, care should be taken to ensure that the soil is always moist, but not excessively wet.