7 Best Low-Maintenance Plants for Partial Shade Balconies

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++Begonias (Begonia)

Super easy to care for and big fans of partial shade, Begonias are a balcony staple thanks to their incredible variety of colors and shapes. Whether you want something bushy, upright, climbing, or trailing, there’s a Begonia for every nook and cranny. If you want maximum reward for minimum effort, look for Wax Begonias (Eisbegonien). They stay compact at about 10 inches tall and are “self-cleaning,” meaning the old blooms drop off on their own—no deadheading required! Their green or bronze foliage looks stunning against white, pink, or red flowers.

++Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

This classic herb is a must-have for its refreshing, sharp aroma. Peppermint is incredibly hardy and thrives in balcony boxes in partially shaded spots. Depending on how often you harvest the leaves for tea or cocktails, it can reach up to three feet tall. Starting in June, it produces pretty little white or purple blossoms. A major bonus? Flies and mosquitoes hate the scent of mint, so it doubles as a natural insect repellent for your seating area!

++Petunias (Petunia)

From May until the first frost, these favorites decorate balconies with a sea of trumpet-shaped flowers in every color from white and pink to deep violet. While they handle partial shade well, it’s best to give them a spot protected from wind and rain, as their delicate blooms can get a bit battered in stormy weather. To keep the flowers coming, pinch off spent blooms occasionally. Pro tip: Mix a slow-release fertilizer into the soil when planting, and all you’ll have to do all summer is keep them watered.

++English Ivy (Hedera)

Ivy is the ultimate shade seeker. This tough, perennial climber loves the city life and can create a dense green privacy screen when grown along a trellis. It also looks fantastic trailing down from a hanging basket with its dark green or variegated leaves. Since English Ivy is evergreen and fully winter-hardy, it keeps your balcony looking lively even in the middle of January.

++Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum)

When the days start getting shorter, these beauties really shine. They produce countless buds in shades of yellow, orange, red, and pink. While some varieties are sensitive to cold, hardy garden mums are perfect for pots. Because they are grown outdoors, they handle summer “mood swings” in the weather quite well. Just make sure to keep them watered; if the root ball dries out for too long, they’ll drop their buds before they even get a chance to bloom.

++Clematis (Waldrebe)

You don’t need a huge garden for Clematis! Compact varieties grow beautifully in large containers on a balcony. The golden rule for Clematis is “cold feet, warm head”—they want their roots kept in the shade. If your pot is in a sunny spot, just plant some low-growing groundcover (like Creeping Phlox) around the base to keep the soil cool. Other than regular watering and the occasional snack of fertilizer, they are surprisingly low-maintenance.

++Hydrangeas (Hydrangea)

These lush bloomers bring a romantic, cottage-core vibe to any partially shaded balcony. While they can get quite large in the ground, you can keep them at a manageable size in a pot with a bit of pruning. To keep them happy, use a slightly acidic potting soil and water them with rainwater or filtered water if your tap water is very “hard” (high in lime). Those big flower heads take a lot of energy, so treat them to some hydrangea-specific fertilizer every two weeks.

%%Hardy Geraniums (Geranium / Cranesbill)

Here’s our secret tip: While most people think of the common annual “Geraniums” (Pelargoniums), the perennial *Hardy Geranium* is actually much tougher and easier to care for. It feels right at home in partial shade and blooms from May through October in shades of white, pink, or blue. Some modern varieties even have cool two-toned flowers. As a bonus, the leaves often turn a beautiful red or yellow in the fall, and in milder climates, they’ll even stay green all winter!