8 dwarf bushes to grow in pots on a west-facing balcony

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Ball': a ball of light all year round!

Here is a brand-new variety of pittosporum with small leaves, very interesting! ‘SilverBall’ forms in a few seasons a dense ball 50 to 80 cm across, clothed with small evergreen glossy leaves. Its aptitude for pruning and its resistance to disease make it an excellent alternative to box in mild climate. It is a very bright variety with a very compact globose habit, ideal for topiary art, which can add a lot of style to a balcony. Its green-grey foliage marginate with white is bright and attractive all year. In late spring it offers discreet flowering with a honey scent. Hardy to -10°C, it is easily grown in full sun in regions with mild winters in a large pot on a balcony, sheltered from prevailing winds. After a rather harsh winter, if plant appears to have suffered, prune severely; it will regrow and ball will reform.

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Ball’

Abelia 'Happy Daydream': pretty variegated, ever-changing foliage

This brand-new Abelia from the Globeplanter® collection is a bush perfect for growing in a pot on a balcony. It forms a very compact ball, not exceeding 1 m in any direction, clad in variegated foliage of bright yellow and soft green, sometimes taking on pink tones in cool weather. Seasonal changes in variegation make this bush unique. Small glossy leaves persist more or less through winter. In summer, Abelia ‘Happy Daydream’ produces small fragrant bells that give way in autumn to rust-coloured bracts that remain on the shoots for a long time. Hardy, it is also resistant to sea spray, but in our coldest regions it may need to be brought into shelter for the winter to protect it from severe frosts and cold, dry winds. It’s an undemanding specimen for sheltered, sunny positions. Ideal for a balcony that gets sun for half the day.

Abelia ‘Happy Daydream’

Pinus nigra 'Pierrick Brégeon' : a true natural topiary!

Works wonders in a container on balcony to create a lasting contemporary or Japanese-inspired atmosphere! Variety ‘Pierrick Brégeon’ stands out for its perfectly compact globe habit and very long fresh green needles arranged around a very short trunk. It has a strong presence despite its small size. It enjoys plenty of sun. Water generously during prolonged drought.

Of very slow growth, it will not exceed 1.50 m in height after many years and does not require pruning. It is a dwarf conifer, very hardy (-20°C), that only needs a sunny position to develop well. Avoid placing it too close to a light-coloured wall, as sun reflection may scorch its needles.

Pinus nigra ‘Pierrick Brégeon’

Euonymus japonicus 'White Spire': exceptionally bright, even in winter

The cultivar ‘White Spire charms with its compact growth and particularly upright habit. It will reach about 50 cm in height with a 30 m spread within 5 years. It makes an attractive subject for balconies, even in winter. This Japanese spindle bush bears evergreen foliage strongly variegated with white on a grey‑green background; a very bright and homogeneous colour. It will adapt to any gardener’s whim who wishes to try their hand at topiary, as it is very easy to prune. Although hardy (-12/-15°C), its foliage is vulnerable to severe frosts, including late frosts. It also dislikes climates that are too hot and too dry in the south of our country. A gently sunlit west‑facing position will therefore suit it perfectly.

Euonymous japonicus ‘White Spire’

Lagerstroemia indica 'Berlingot Menthe': colour and panache

This small Lagerstroemia is easy to grow in a pot, which is an advantage on a balcony since Lagerstroemia indica ‘Berlingot Menthe’ does not exceed 1.5 m. Larger Lagerstroemias can reach up to 9 m tall! Choose a pot at least 60 cm high so roots can develop comfortably. With delightful summer flowering of ruffled Indian-pink flowers edged with white, foliage attractively coloured in spring and glowing in autumn, and decorative bark marbled with red tones, its changing colours will provide a show through the seasons! In regions where severe frosts are common, we recommend wrapping the pot with layers of straw, bubble wrap or horticultural fleece to protect it from frost in winter. It brings plenty of colour and panache to balcony decoration in a warm, sunny position.

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Berlingot Menthe’

Cordyline australis 'Charly Boy': exotic yet hardy

Beneath its exotic appearance, this variety hides a robust bush particularly notable for its resistance to cold, wet conditions (down to -10°C). However, reserve it for areas spared from severe frosts or bring the pot indoors during winter elsewhere. ‘Charly Boy‘ is compact, slow-growing and forms a small tree with a palm-like habit reaching 1.50 m in height, with a spread of 80 cm. It is well suited to container growing and, with its fluorescent colours, always makes a striking impression on a balcony. Its richly coloured evergreen foliage is made up of violet leaves edged with Indian pink, almost fuchsia, 40–80 cm long. Careful attention must be paid to watering and feeding (liquid fertiliser twice a month during growth). In a pot it has increased water requirements but beware of excesses that would yellow its foliage: in summer keep the base cool but not waterlogged. This cultivar brings a lovely touch of exoticism and a contemporary note. It is the perfect architectural plant for a seafront balcony in a large container!

Cordyline ‘Charlie Boy’

Buddleja davidii ‘Argus White’: delicate and generous flowering

This new dwarf variety of butterfly bush stands out for its exceptionally compact yet elegant habit and refined flowering! ‘Argus White’ is perfectly suited to growing in pots. Measuring just over 1 m in all directions at maturity, it will easily fit on a balcony. It quickly forms a generous, well-proportioned bush, bristly from June to October with spikes of pure white up to 30 cm long. This flowering gives off a pleasant sweet scent. Very hardy (-20°C) and robust, it also tolerates pollution well, so ideal for an urban balcony. It prefers very sunny or lightly shaded positions, sheltered from strong winds. It requires only regular watering in summer and a feed in spring or summer to stimulate flowering.

The secret to keeping it looking good is to prune it hard in March, before growth resumes; this helps preserve floriferous shoots and prevents the bush from becoming bare. It will reliably flower every year for a long time, throughout summer and profusely!

Buddleja davidii ‘Argus White’

Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera: exotic ambience guaranteed

This is one of the hardiest varieties of dwarf palm, and probably the one boasting the most beautiful foliage! It is very ornamental, with a lovely bluish-grey colour. Relatively hardy (down to -12°C), it is also one of the easiest to acclimatise. With its compact size (around 2 m in height at maturity when grown in a pot), the Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera will make a magnificent specimen on a balcony, planted in a large container. Undemanding, it will thrive in full sun and sheltered from cold winds. You can bring it indoors in winter to protect it from severe cold, if necessary, then put it back out in spring or simply wrap the pot in several layers of frost protection fleece. Remember to repot every two years in spring and to apply liquid feed from time to time. Perfect in an exotic-inspired setting!

Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera (Photo: KM)