5 plants that thrive on a north-facing balcony garden – the best flowering and evergreen varieties for a lush outdoor space
These plants don't mind the shade!
A north-facing balcony can be a challenging position for plants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow a thriving garden on one. It’s just about choosing the best plants for a north-facing balcony.
More apartment owners and renters are getting into gardening than ever, which is why balcony garden ideas are so popular right now. Not all of us are blessed with an east-, west- or south-facing outdoor space, though, which is why north-facing garden ideas are perhaps the most crucial to creating a productive space in shadier conditions.
I’ve rounded up a list of the best plants for a north-facing balcony garden, handpicked by the experts, to help you infuse your outdoor space with flowers, foliage and harvests.
Balcony growing essentials
A gorgeous rattan basket planter that can be hooked onto a balcony railing.
Ideal for staggering several different plants on a small balcony.
A set of three hanging planters for a balcony railing.
1. Ferns
Low-maintenance ferns thrive in shadier conditions, which means they’re perfect for north-facing balconies. They’ll add lush greenery to pots, planters and hanging baskets, and if you choose evergreen varieties (try this Evergreen Hardy Fern Collection from YouGarden), they’ll stay green all year round.
‘For shadier balconies, it’s just about picking plants that are happy without full sun,’ says Jo McGarry, a leading expert in luxury garden design from Caragh Nurseries. ‘Ferns are solid choices and still look really good in containers.
‘If you’re short on space, I’d go for a few bigger pots rather than loads of small ones. It looks better, and it’s way easier to keep everything watered.’
Where to buy ferns:
- Crocus: Dryopteris erythrosora is a deciduous fern that starts out coppery-red before maturing to dark green.
- Gardening Express: Cyrtomium fortunei var. clivicola produces leathery evergreen fronds.
2. Begonias
Begonias are popular for their bold, colourful blooms, which have brilliant staying power from late spring to autumn, depending on the variety. I always assumed that flowers like that needed plenty of sunshine – but I was wrong!
‘For shadier spots such as north-facing balconies, begonias provide long-lasting colour without needing direct sun,’ says Lance Russell, horticultural expert at Thompson & Morgan.
I can actually vouch for begonias being a brilliant north-facing garden plant, because my mum’s potted begonias flower beautifully in her north-west-facing front garden. They're a similar colour to Begonia 'Funky Pink', which you can order from Thompson & Morgan.
Where to buy begonias:
- Thompson & Morgan: Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Apricot Shades Improved' F1 produces fiery blooms.
- Marshalls Garden: Begonia 'Nonstop Mocca Light Pink Shades' is on my list to grow.
3. Fuchsias
Learning how to grow fuchsias is an absolute joy, because they produce masses of pretty flowers in shades from mid-summer all the way through to the autumn. As luck would have it, they’re one of the very best plants for a north-facing balcony.
‘When it comes to summer colour on a shady north-facing balcony, fuchsias are one of my top picks,’ says Pim Dickson, senior horticultural manager at Fothergill's. ‘Their exquisite blooms are a delight, and, paired with the hot, jewel-like colours of begonias, they lend a wonderfully exotic feel to what might otherwise be a challenging spot.’
Where to buy fuchsias:
- Gardening Express: Buy a pair of 'Purple-Red Angela' standard fuchsia trees, already in bloom.
- Crocus: Fuchsia 'Heidi Ann' produces delicate pink blooms.
4. Hostas
Hostas are a popular classic in UK gardens for a reason: they’re low-maintenance, produce stunning, bold foliage, and thrive in shady spaces. They’re another recommendation of Pim’s for north-facing balcony plants.
‘Hostas are a favourite of mine for creating a lush, leafy backdrop to flowering plants, and with such a wide variety available, you can craft a stunning leaf-scape,’ he says. ‘A top tip here: always double-check any incoming pots and plants for slugs, snails and their eggs. Do that, and your balcony hostas will look pristine right up to the first frosts.’
Some copper slug tape, like this from Amazon, will create a barrier that keeps slugs away from pots.
Where to buy hostas:
- B&Q: Pick up Hosta 'Purple Heart' in a 9cm pot for two-tone leaves.
- Crocus: Hosta 'Francee' has white margins on its leaves.
5. Evergreen bittersweet
Another evergreen plant you can grow in pots on a north-facing balcony is evergreen bittersweet, sometimes known as fortune’s spindle. It’s a tough shrub that sits perfectly happy in a shadier spot.
‘For year-round structure and privacy, leafy evergreens like Euonymus fortunei are a brilliant choice,’ says Pim. ‘They tolerate shade beautifully and, because they're evergreen, will help provide both privacy and a little screening from colder northerly winds throughout the year. Like hostas, they come in a fantastic range of interesting leaf colours, so there's plenty of room to get creative.’
Where to buy evergreen bittersweet:
- Crocus: Order 2-litre pots of variegated Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'.
- Debenhams: Euonymus fortunei 'Harlequin' is a little more unusual.
There are plenty of other shade-loving plants for pots that will feel right at home on a north-facing balcony.
