Five Flowers That Thrive on Both Southern and Northern Balconies

For flower lovers, growing some beautiful and easy-care flowers on the balcony is undoubtedly a delight. If you are still wondering what to grow, take a look at these five flowers that do well in both the south and the north.

Petunia: Petunia has a flowering period of about 200 days, produces an enormous number of blooms, and bursts into a riot of flowers as soon as it opens. Its flower colors are rich and brilliant, including red, white, pink, purple, and various kinds with spots, veining, and stripes. Common varieties include Dream, Wave, and Mirage; Dream has large, full flowers, while Wave has a unique wave-like flower form. Petunia likes a warm environment with plenty of sunlight, with an optimum growing temperature of 13 - 18°C; in winter the temperature should be 4 - 10°C, and in summer it can tolerate high temperatures above 35°C. It is not frost-tolerant and dislikes waterlogging, so for container growing it is best to use a loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam.

Geranium: Geranium is also a flowering "model worker," easily blooming for half a year. It has many varieties, each with its own charm, and its leaves also carry a unique fragrance; its flowers form clusters and have extremely high ornamental value. Common varieties include True Love, with single red flowers, and Fantasia, with large semi-double red flowers. Geranium is fairly adaptable and slightly drought-tolerant but hates excess moisture. It likes sunlight, and apart from needing shade during the hot summer, it should receive more than 4 hours of sunlight per day at other times. Its optimum growing temperature is 15 °C; in winter, if the growing temperature is kept at around 15°C during the day and not lower than 8°C at night, it can still continue to grow and bloom.

Moss Rose: Some people say Moss Rose is the top beginner's choice for balcony flowers; it can bloom almost every day and has extremely strong adaptability to the environment, tolerating both drought and sun. Just stick a stem casually into the soil, and it will quickly take root, sprout, and bloom continuously. Moss Rose, also known as Portulaca grandiflora, likes full sun and can grow well even at a high temperature of 40°C; its flowering period is from 5 - 11 months, its flower colors are rich, and it almost never suffers from pests or diseases, making it very easy to care for.

Blue Plumbago: Blue Plumbago is a touch of coolness on the summer balcony; it grows rapidly, taking only a few short months from seedling to a full pot, and is a mainstay of summer bloom. Its blue flowers are fresh and elegant, giving a sense of tranquility and comfort, and its cuttings root with an extremely high success rate. Blue Plumbago can withstand a high temperature of 40°C; the more sun it gets, the more vigorously it blooms, with a flowering period from 5 - 11 months, bringing a hint of coolness to your balcony in the hot summer.

Gazania: Gazania is as dazzling as a golden medal, with bright and striking flower colors. It has strong adaptability and is simple to care for, making it the balcony's "attention-grabber." Gazania likes an environment with plenty of sunlight and good ventilation, is not demanding about soil, and is relatively drought-tolerant; its flowering period is from late spring to autumn, and when it blooms its flowers are gorgeous and highly ornamental.

These five flowers can adapt well whether in the warm, humid climate of the south or the dry, cold environment of the north. Moreover, they are relatively easy to care for, so even beginner growers can manage them with ease. Hurry and pick a few for your balcony to create your own little garden.