Plants on the terrace and balcony create a natural, relaxed atmosphere. But not all plants are suitable for growing in pots. Find out in the following which plants you can plant on your terrace and which location requirements have to be considered.

When choosing plants for the terrace, the location requirements of the plants must be observed

What to plant on the terrace?

A terrace can be green, colorful with flowers or planted with fruit or vegetables. There are:

  • flower
  • Green shrubs
  • climbing plants
  • fruit and vegetables
  • herbs
  • exotic plants such as olive trees, citrus trees or similar

The most beautiful flowers for the terrace

Most flowering ornamental plants do well in tubs. However, it is important that you observe the site requirements. You should never grow shade-loving begonias or balloon flowers on a south-facing balcony. These would burn in the midday sun. The other way around, the sun-hungry lantana would wither away on the north-facing balcony. Therefore, the orientation of the terrace is decisive for the choice of plants. Another interesting consideration is hardiness. Potted plants that are hardy can spend the winter on the patio or balcony. However, potted plants should always be protected by wrapping the pot in e.g. jute or another heat-insulating material.
The following is a list of the most beautiful patio flowers with their flower colour, sun requirements and winter hardiness.

Surname botanical name flower color location requirements hardy
balloon flowers Platycodon grandiflorus Violet to bluish, white Shady to semi-shady Yes
begonia begonia White, orange, yellow, red, pink, etc. the shade no
Blue fan flower Scaevola aemula violet Sunny to semi-shady no
Blue Daisy Brachyscome iberidifolia Blue to violet Sunny to semi-shady no
Brazilian guava Acca sellowiana Pink-white with red pistil full sun Rather not
dahlia dahlias Pink, red, orange etc. Sunny to semi-shady no
Dipladenia Mandevilla Red, pink, white etc. Sunny no
real jasmine jasmine White Sunny no
elf spur diascia White, pink, violet full sun Most varieties don't
Verbena verbena Violet to bluish Sunny to semi-shady no
Busy Lizzie Impatiens walleriana White, red, violet, pink, etc. Shady to semi-shady no
fuchsias fuchsia Violet, pink, red Shady to semi-shady Depending on the variety, rather no
Geranium (Pelargonium) pelargonium Pink, white, violet, red, etc. Sunny There are hardy varieties
Hammerbush cestral White, orange, pink, red, violet, etc. Sunny no
hydrangeas Hydrangea Blue, pink, red, white etc. Works with all locations Most of the time yes
hussar button Sanvitalia procumbens yellow Sunny to semi-shady Annual
cape basket osteospermum Many different colors Sunny no
finial Polygala Violet to bluish full sun no
liver balm Ageratum houstonianum Bluish, pink, violet full sun Annual
loyal to men Lobelia erinus Blue, white, pink Sunny to semi-shady Annual
petunia petunia Pink, violet and other colors Sunny to semi-shady no
Purslane Portulaca grandiflora Many different colors Sunny no
splendor pier astilbe White, pink, red etc. Shady to semi-shady Yes
Purplebells Heuchera Red, pink penumbra Yes
African Lily agapanthus Bluish, white Sunny to semi-shady Rather not
snowflake flower Chaenostoma cordatum White penumbra no
shrub daisy Argyranthemum frutescens white, pink full sun no
vanilla flower Heliotropium arborescens violet Sunny to semi-shady Annual
forest bellflower campanula purple or white Shady to semi-shady Yes
Lantana Lantana camara White, pink, orange, yellow, mostly multicolored Sunny no
magic bell Calibrachoa Many different colors Sunny Rather not
ornamental tobacco Nicotiana x sanderae White, yellow, red, pink Sunny to semi-shady no
zinnia Zinnia elegans Many different colors full sun Annual

Climbing plants on the terrace

You can green white walls with climbing plants on the terrace or you can use them as a natural privacy screen or for shading.

Surname botanical name location features
triplet flower Bougainvillea full sun Beautiful pink to purple flowers
Dipladenia Mandevilla Sunny Frost sensitive
ivy Hedera helix Shady to semi-shady Fast growing, can attack walls, hardy, evergreen
honeysuckle Lonicera partial shade Evergreen, hardy
bell vine Cobaea scandens Sunny Fast growing
hop humulus Sunny to semi-shady hardy
knotweed Fallopia aubertii Sunny, semi-shady or shady Becomes very large, fast-growing, hardy
climbing spindle Euonymus fortunei radicans partial shade Hardy, easy to care for
climbing trumpet Campsis radicans Sunny to semi-shady Adhesive roots (caution on masonry!), some varieties hardy
passion flower passiflora Sunny Not hardy, very attractive flowers
morning glory Ipomoea Sunny Frost sensitive, pretty blue flowers
Black-eyed Susanne Thunbergia alata Sunny Not hardy, beautiful orange flowers
star jasmine trachelospermum Partial shade to sunny Beguiling scent
Clematis clematis Sunny strong growth
Wild Wine Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris Sunny Beautiful leaf color in autumn

Fruit and vegetable growing on the terrace

Deep-rooted plants that need a lot of space are of course not suitable for the terrace, so raspberries, gooseberries, fruit trees, etc. fall out. Strawberries, on the other hand, can be grown very well in balcony boxes (€109.00). Likewise salads and all herbs. Vegetables that need a little more space can be planted in a raised bed. You'll find more about it here.

Plants for shady terraces

While most plants thrive in partial shade or full sun, the choice of plants for north-facing patios is significantly limited. In addition to the above-mentioned plants with a low sun requirement, ferns and various shrubs, for example, can be grown on the shaded terrace. Check out this post for more shade patio planting ideas.

Category:

Indoor plants