March 25, 2024, 5:52 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Not everyone is blessed with a green thumb. Yet, the balcony and garden should still be green and blooming. myHOMEBOOK presents six ornamental plants that even beginners can successfully grow.
As soon as the first plants open their buds and a light green shimmer appears on shrubs and trees, most people long to spruce up their balcony and garden. Those who want minimal work should choose ornamental plants that are not only attractive but also withstand any weather and require little care. While primroses and other early bloomers are eye-catching on the balcony or in the front yard for a few weeks, they fade quickly and are less appealing for the rest of the year. Therefore, we present six ornamental plants for beginners that hobby gardeners can enjoy with minimal maintenance.
Overview
6 Ornamental Plants for Beginners
Japanese Andromeda
If you have a sunny balcony and still want to water sparingly, the Japanese Andromeda is a good choice. It produces many small violet, pink, or white flowers that bloom tirelessly from April until the first real frost. Even hot summer days don’t bother this attractive beginner’s ornamental plant. It only needs watering about twice a week. As for fertilizer, the plant is undemanding: if potting soil is used for planting, no additional fertilization is necessary.
Busy Lizzie
This beginner’s ornamental plant is aptly named. From May to October, it continuously produces new flowers that can be bright red, purple, pink, or white. To enhance and prolong the bloom, a little flower fertilizer can be added occasionally. The Busy Lizzie will then be even more prolific in producing new flowers.
Lavender
In the garden and on the balcony, lavender is always a safe bet. The small shrub tolerates heat well and doesn’t mind if watering is occasionally forgotten. Originally from the Mediterranean region, lavender can even withstand frost and survive icy winters. It usually blooms in violet, but there are also white and pink varieties. Its flowers have a distinctive scent and attract bees and bumblebees.
Bleeding Heart
On semi-shaded and rather wind-protected balconies or in pots on the terrace, the Bleeding Heart thrives, captivating with its charming pink and pink flowers. This beginner’s ornamental plant also requires only moderate watering and even needs a crisp cold frost period to produce many new flowers the following year. The Bleeding Heart can remain in the balcony box for several years without any issues.
Million Bells
Million Bells are a smaller variety of petunias. They bloom in many different colors and are extremely resilient. Regardless of the weather, Million Bells continuously produce new flowers that attract numerous pollinators. Even after pruning, new flowers keep emerging–right into October.
Daisies
The attractively blooming daisies also come in a wide range of colors. Traditionally white or yellow, they are now also available in vibrant pink, orange, pink, and violet. Daisies need more water than the previously mentioned balcony and garden ornamental plants, but they are more resistant to wind and rain. If you have a balcony exposed to the weather, place your daisies there and be rewarded with many flowers until fall.
Choosing the Right Container and Location Eases the Work
“Sun-loving plants won’t thrive on a north-facing balcony, and if you rarely water, daisies might not be the best choice. Before purchasing, consider the conditions on your balcony or in your garden. The right location rewards plants with many flowers and little work. The right plant container can also significantly reduce watering needs. Plants should always have enough space and substrate in the pot to better retain water. Clay pots themselves also store water. And if you want to water even less frequently, try using clay spikes, which, with an inverted and filled water bottle, can continuously supply water to the plant’s soil for several days or even weeks, depending on the size.”