7 dwarf bushes to grow in pots on an east-facing balcony

Euonymus fortunei 'Dan’s Delight': bright all year round

Here is a very pretty small variety of Euonymus, perfect for brightening a partially shaded balcony even in midwinter! Clad in variegated foliage widely edged with creamy white, this cultivar slowly forms a compact bush of slow growth about 50 cm high with a spreading of at least 50 cm. With its evergreen foliage, ‘Dan’s Delight’ maintains a neat appearance. It is ideal in partially shaded spots in a pot or container. Variegated-leaf forms tolerate more shade, but dislike dry conditions. With excellent hardiness, and tolerating sea spray and wind very well, it will suit an east-facing position perfectly. Water 1 to 2 times a week, as potting compost dries faster than in open ground.

Azalea 'Delicatissima': infinitely graceful

Did you know its favoured exposure is partial shade, or morning sun from the east, especially in our very sunny, warm regions? This Chinese azalea will perform best sheltered from overly strong sun, planted in an appropriate substrate (free of lime), and preferably watered with non-calcareous water.‘Delicatissima’ produces large pastel flowers, pale pink set off by beautiful maculate yellow‑orange markings. Their honeysuckle scent adds to the beauty of the flowers. Its deciduous foliage, as with all Chinese azaleas, takes on striking flamboyant hues in autumn. This charming azalea will reach about 1.20 to 1.50 m in height with 1 m spread. Choose a location sheltered from cold, dry winds: plant is hardy down to −15°C but will suffer in severe cold. The cooler the climate, the more it should be sheltered. Ideal for planting in a large pot which must be watered regularly, especially in dry weather.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Angel Gold': a beautiful bright mound

This Physocarpus will make a real impact when planted in a container on a balcony. With its deciduous, very brightly coloured foliage, it will add a lovely touch of golden light that will last until late in the season. It also produces a pretty white flowering in June, followed by small decorative pale red fruits that persist into autumn. ‘Angel Gold‘ is great for adding brightness to a shaded balcony and for its fairly upright, bushy habit. It should be sheltered from too-intense sun where its golden foliage could be damaged, but it can be planted in an east-facing position in a cool, humid climate as it is perfectly hardy.

Rhododendron 'Bloombux': elegant all year round

Smaller Rhododendron varieties are well suited to pot culture, allowing them to be grown on a balcony. The rhododendron ‘Bloombux’ forms a compact, dense bush, not exceeding 1 m in height. In June it bears round clusters of small fragrant flowers in a very pale pink. This evergreen and hardy bush is elegant all year round. It will be happiest in a large pot, in a mix of heather soil and potting compost, on an east-facing spot where it receives morning sun while being protected from excessive heat. Watering, preferably with rainwater, should be regular throughout the year.

⇒ All Alexandra’s advice to to grow a Rhododendron in pots

Spiraea japonica 'Double Play Big Bang Tracy': colourful, ever-changing shrub

A brand-new Japanese spirea forming a large, multicoloured cushion-like shape, with changing foliage and deep-pink summer flowering. Its compact, rounded habit makes it ideal for container growing: average mature size will be about 75 cm in every direction. ‘Double Play Big Bang Tracy’ displays particularly colourful foliage, yellow in spring, green in summer turning to yellow‑orange in autumn. This adorable little bush will easily find a place away from very hot or overly dry conditions.

Weigela 'All Summer Peach': exceptionally perpetual flowering

Small in stature but generous with its flowering! ‘All Summer Peach’ flowers almost continuously from April to September, producing funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, apricot and peach. With a very compact, bushy habit, this space-saving bush fits easily into a large pot on a balcony. It is easy to grow in most of our regions, except the warmest and driest, so it will do well in partial shade; moreover it is hardy to -25°C and not bothered by wind.

Philadelphus 'Lemoinei': charming and highly adaptable

It is one of the most fragrant hybrid mock-oranges. Lemoinei offers an abundance of white flowers in June–July that exude an orange blossom scent. It forms a deciduous bush, bushy with an upright habit, which when mature will not exceed 1.5 m in height and 1 m across. It prefers a partly shaded position, as it dislikes excessively hot, south-facing exposures typical of southern France. Very hardy, it tolerates temperatures down to -20°C. It’s an easy-to-grow plant, ideal for novice gardeners and those without a garden!