Designing ideas for a wind-exposed balcony

Which windbreaks should you install on a balcony?

There are several ways to shield yourself from the wind on a balcony. Windbreaks or wind shields are devices you can install on your balcony to shelter yourself. They help reduce the wind’s impact and enhance the look of your balcony.

Installing reed screens helps counter light winds while preserving a natural atmosphere. Another economical option to choose depending on wind strength: trellises or lattices to install, and on which you can grow climbing plants.

Reed screens reduce winds that aren’t too strong, and if they are open-weave, they filter them

If you need a temporary installation, a retractable outdoor screen can be a solution, as can a parasol with a base heavy enough to prevent it being blown away by the slightest draught.

For gusts that are more hair-ruffling, open-weave palisades or claustras are more effective and come in a range of materials, from wood to metal and plastic. Again, the heavier the material, the more resistant the installation will be to the winds.

For those who prefer natural solutions, windbreak hedges are ideal for shielding you from the wind while using plants as decoration. You will need to choose wind-resistant shrubs and plants to ensure that this windbreak vegetation is fully effective. Take inspiration from the following selection of windbreak shrubs and install this windbreak hedge in a large planter.

Choosing wind-resistant bushes

Shrubs play a key role in protecting balconies exposed to wind, acting as natural barriers that attenuate the impact of gusts. Choose shrubs that can be grown in pots and whose growth stays compact.

Eleagnus or Chalef is a shrub often used in a windbreak hedge. It bears lanceolate, leathery, silver-green foliage and produces discreet white flowers in autumn, followed by decorative red fruits. For a balcony, the Eleagnus ebbingei ‘Compacta’ grows up to 2 metres tall and is a safe bet.

Photinia is often paired with Eleagnus to create a windbreak hedge. Its evergreen foliage withstands winds well and offers vibrant red and green colours. The Photinia fraseri ‘Carré rouge’ is suitable for pot culture and can grow up to 3 metres tall. Its white and slightly scented flowering appears in spring.

Cherry laurel, known for its rapid growth and dense foliage, is an ideal option for a windy balcony. In addition to breaking the wind, it provides privacy thanks to its height and evergreen foliage that protects you year‑round. Among compact cherry laurels, Cherry laurel – Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’ reaches a height of 2 metres at maturity, while cherry laurel ‘Zabeliana’ – Prunus laurocerasus offers a spreading habit up to 1.25 metres tall.

Aucuba is another evergreen shrub with wind-resistant foliage. Easy to grow and hardy, it brightens shady corners. Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ offers green leaves splashed with yellow and a compact size up to 1.75 metres.

The bamboo is particularly well suited for creating a natural windbreak. Its vertical, rapid growth provides an effective screen in a short time. Leaves offer a wide range of colours, from golden to green, including variegated. The Fargesia murielae ‘Maasai’ – non‑running bamboo grows well in sun or shade and can reach a height of 3.5 metres. It forms a dense plant screen that stands up well to winds.

Cotinus or Smoke Tree is a wind‑resistant shrub, but also resistant to pollution and drought. It offers an original plume-like flowering in summer.

Bamboos are effective at filtering wind (provided you install them more densely than in the photo)

Choosing wind-resistant plants

In addition to shrubs, some plants are particularly well suited for windy balconies.

Ornamental grasses, such as miscanthus and stipa, are plants that fit perfectly into a windy balcony garden. Their flexible stems and foliage that sways with the wind create a calming visual effect and add movement and texture. Their natural look and easy to maintain make them popular choices for urban gardeners.

The Buenos Aires Verbena is a perennial that offers long stems topped with clusters of purple flowers. It attracts pollinators and adds an interesting height to the garden, while withstanding strong winds well. Easy to grow, it adds colour and lasting beauty.

Yarrow is a hardy perennial that brings a rustic touch and colour to a balcony. Its summer flowering comes in a range of colours, from white to red, via yellow and pink. Easy to grow, it tolerates drought very well and loves sun.

Heather is a plant that naturally grows in windy areas. This undershrub is easy to grow and offers evergreen foliage and colourful flowering displays, ranging from pink to white and purple.

Rockrose is an undershrub that thrives in the garrigue and flowers from spring to summer. Its crumpled and silk-soft flowers are closely related to rockroses. The foliage is evergreen or semi-evergreen. To flourish, it needs sun and well-drained soil.

Miscanthus and grasses are wind-tolerant plants that sway gracefully

Tips for growing on a windy balcony.

Wind can have a drying effect on the growing medium and the plants. Mulching helps protect your potted plants from this drying out and keeps the soil cool. Choose a mulch heavy enough so that it does not blow away at the first gust. You can opt for gravel, clay pellets, pebbles or pozzolana. Put aside plant mulches that are too light such as flax or hemp flakes.

The wind can carry away your climbing plants. Make sure to tie them securely to their trellis or vertical support so that they stay in place and are not pulled out.

Finally, choose heavy pots and containers that cannot be carried away by gusts. For example, you can opt for terracotta pots.

For more information, consult our advice sheet on growing plants in pots or containers.