5 bushes to grow on a windy balcony

Cherry laurel, a bush that withstands everything

Cherry laurel is often used to create privacy or windbreak hedges in the garden. It is a particularly tolerant and resilient bush. Easy to grow, low maintenance, thriving in all soils and climates, hardy down to about -20°C, it is one of the foolproof options. It also has the advantage of offering rapid growth, ideal for greening a balcony without delay.

Cherry laurel is characterised by its dense, leathery evergreen foliage, decorative all year round. The dark green, glossy leaves are sometimes coppery at the bud burst period. In the absence of pruning, it produces creamy white, fluffy flowers in spring and late summer, which are slightly fragrant. The flowering is followed by the appearance of decorative but toxic berries.

For pot or container cultivation, opt for the smaller, more compact varieties:

• Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’ (2 metres high and 1.5 metres wide), with coppery young shoots;
• ‘Otto Luyken’ (1.5 metres in all directions), with its abundant flowering;
• ‘Zabeliana’ (1.25 metres high and 2.5 metres wide), a variety with a spreading habit;
• ‘Greentorch’ (2 metres high and 1 metre wide), with a lovely upright habit.

Find all our growing tips in the dedicated section “Palmetto laurel and Portuguese laurel: planting, pruning, and maintaining”

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Greentorch’

Aucuba, a bright foliage for shady areas

TheAucuba is valued for its beautiful, glossy evergreen foliage, which has the advantage of brightening even the shadiest areas. Female plants bear small decorative red fruits in winter.

Not lacking in assets, it is easy to cultivate, tolerant of both soil and climate, and offers great hardiness down to -15 °C. In an exposed balcony situation, it will withstand wind and sea spray without any issues.

Grow Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ or ‘Golden King’ (1.8 metres in all directions), with leaves spotted or speckled with yellow. Very popular, Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ (1.75 metres in all directions) will also be perfect, with its foliage splashed with yellow-cream. For a smaller version (1.1 metres in all directions), opt for the dwarf variety ‘Rozannie’.

All our cultivation tips are available in the section “Aucuba: planting, pruning and maintenance.”

Aucuba japonica ‘Golden King’

Olearia, a high tolerance to sea spray

The Olearias are evergreen bushes, offering a lovely star-shaped flowering from spring to autumn, depending on the variety. Well-tolerant of sea spray and resistant to winds, they are perfect candidates for windy seaside balconies in climates where frost is never too intense or prolonged. They thrive in sunny situations, in rich but well-drained soil.

Their dense foliage, a glossy dark green, remains decorative all year round.

For cultivation on a balcony or terrace, choose the smaller varieties such as:

• Olearia solandri ‘Aurea’ (2 metres in all directions), for its foliage reminiscent of heather and its lightly honey-scented flowers;
• Olearia scilloniensis (1.5 metres in all directions), with its abundant flowering reminiscent of asters;
• Olearia haastii (1.5 to 1.75 m in all directions), for its greater hardiness compared to its relatives, down to about -12°C;
• Olearia macrodonta ‘Major’, with foliage reminiscent of holly.

To successfully cultivate olearia, feel free to consult our file “Olearia: planting, cultivation.”

Olearia solandri ‘Aurea’

The Mexican Orange, a beautiful fragrant bush

TheMexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata) withstands strong winds and salt spray as well as frosts down to -15 °C and drought. This low-maintenance bush can be grown easily in pots. On the terrace or balcony, however, it is best to choose a location sheltered from the coldest drafts or north winds, which could damage its leaves.

Among its other undeniable qualities, we find a glossy evergreen foliage that has the unique characteristic of releasing an aromatic fragrance. The spring white flowering, sometimes repeat flowering at the end of summer, also exudes a pleasant orange blossom scent, which gives the shrub its name.

Its dome-shaped silhouette will enhance semi-shaded areas or west-facing situations.

Choose from various compact varieties, such as:

• ‘Aztec Gold’ (1.2 metres in all directions), with fine golden leaves;
• ‘White Dazzler’ (1.2 metres in all directions), with dark green foliage;
• ‘Scented Gem’ (1.3 metres high and 1.1 metres wide), a gem with bicoloured flowers, featuring pink buds and white corollas;
• ‘Snow Flurries’ (1.5 metres in all directions), offering large white pompom flowers;
• ‘Apple Blossom’ (1.2 metres high and 60 cm wide), with rare pale pink flowers;
• ‘Sundance’ (2 metres high and 1.5 metres wide), with golden yellow foliage turning to soft green.

For further reading, we invite you to check our article “Mexican Orange, Choisya: planting, pruning and maintenance.”

Choisya x dewitteana ‘White Dazzler’

The Cotinus, an astonishing flowering

The Cotinus or Smoke Tree gets its name from its incredible feathery flowering in summer. Vigorous, robust, hardy down to -20 °C, and tolerant of all types of soil, including chalky soil, its qualities do not stop there. It is also a bush resistant to wind, drought, and pollution, making it ideal for a windy urban balcony.

Its deciduous foliage dons vibrant colours in autumn before falling, providing additional aesthetic interest.

For cultivation on a balcony, choose dwarf varieties. The Cotinus coggygria ‘Young Lady’ and ‘Lilla’ (just over 1 metre in all directions), or ‘Smokey Joe’ (averaging 2 metres in height and 1.5 metres in width).

Also, check out our complete guide “Cotinus, Smoke Tree: planting, pruning, maintaining.”

Cotinus coggygria ‘Young Lady’