PERENNIAL HANGING BALCONY PLANTS: THE BEST FOR DECORATING THE OUTDOORS!

Whether it's summer or winter, having a balcony or a garden with a touch of green always puts you in a good mood. Among the favorite outdoor species, there are certainly hanging perennial balcony plants that survive a long time and that, in most cases, do not require special care. Each of them has specific characteristics: there are evergreen and flowering varieties, which in the warmer months give flowers with bright and gaudy colors.

Ivy

If you think of hanging perennials, surely the most famous is ivy. Belonging to the Araliaceae family, there are numerous varieties of ivy, which are usually distinguished by the color of their leaves. They can be dark green or have white, yellow or cream colored borders. They do not produce flowers, but small black berries or berries in shades of yellow that have stones inside them. As a climbing plant, ivy is used not only to decorate the balconies of town houses, but also to cover rock gardens, low walls, walls and other external areas of buildings, even dividers between various areas.

All species are easy to grow and very resistant to warmer and cold climates, although they must be sheltered during the harshest frosts. Especially the ivy with dark green leaves prefers cool and shady areas. In general, for effective cultivation, gardeners recommend watering the soil regularly in the growing period, between April and September. This prevents the surface soil layer from remaining dry. On the contrary, in the autumn-winter period watering can be limited once a month.

Surfinia

Native to part of Brazil and part of Japan, Surfinia belongs to the genus Petunia and to the family of Solanaceae. It is a perennial hanging plant very widespread on Italian balconies and every year it impresses with its very colorful flowers. In fact, with its characteristic bell shape, the surfinia gives a flowering that can last from spring to autumn, October-November. Its flowers range from white to red, from purple to pink and blue. As we mentioned, it is a cascading species, which can grow up to two meters.

Unlike other perennials, especially evergreens, surfinia requires some extra attention. In fact, it is not very resistant to cold and for this reason it is better to move the pot to more sheltered areas during the winter. Furthermore, in summer, to favor flowering, it should be exposed in full sun and the soil should be watered very consistently before it dries out completely.

Eschinanto

Always for those who appreciate flowering hanging perennials, the eschinanthus offers a valid solution. Various plants belonging to this genus belong to the family of Gesneriaceae, varieties originating in sub-tropical areas. These species are recognized by their flexible and sinuous stems, which can be both hanging and climbing. They are covered with a light down and some beautiful oval-shaped leaves sprout on them, while from late spring to late summer is the flowering period. The flowers of the eschinanthus are cylindrical in shape and their color changes according to the variety. . They can range from red to orange, yellow to purple or purple.

In general, the eschinanthus is an outdoor plant. Not surprisingly, we often see it embellishing balconies and terraces in suspended pots. However, unlike other perennial species, it does not tolerate the cold well, therefore, during the winter months, it is It can be kept in an apartment, as long as it is not placed in direct contact with heat sources. In summer, however, the pot should be placed in an area where sunlight alternates with moments of shade and should be watered moderately. always waiting for the soil to dry completely before giving more water.

Mandevilla

Also known as Dipladenia, the mandevilla is an ornamental evergreen climbing plant native to tropical America and belonging to the family of Apocinaceae. Due to its shape, it is very often chosen to embellish balconies, terraces and gardens. In fact, it can be grown in pots like other hanging plants or placed near walls, rocky spaces or walls to exploit its climbing qualities. The mandevilla stands out for its dark green ovoid leaves and, above all, for the wonderful flowering it gives during the summer season. Its flowers range from red to white to pink.

The cultivation of dipladenia is similar to that of the eschinanthus. It can be kept outside only in areas where the winter temperature never drops below 5 ° C, otherwise during the colder months it should be moved indoors, placed away. from heat sources and placed near a window where it can receive natural sunlight. In spring and summer it should be watered frequently, but leaving the water to drain between one watering and the other. In autumn and winter, however, it requires only sporadic watering.

Asian Jasmine "Summer Sunset"

Its real name is Trachelospermum asiaticum and it is a plant that is spreading more and more in Italy thanks to its drooping, climbing and even ground cover. The evergreen Asian "Summer Sunset" jasmine differs from the classic jasmine because its peculiarity is not the flowers, but the leaves. In fact, it has a foliage of different colors, where green, yellow and orange are mixed, while in winter it even becomes a ruby red. This connotation makes it one of the most popular climbing or hanging plants to decorate the outdoors, such as rock gardens or flower beds, or simply to give a touch of green to the balcony of the house, kept in a suspended pot.

Unlike other plants, Asian "Summer Sunset" jasmine is very resistant to cold and low temperatures, but also adapts to hot climates.It can be placed in full sun only if its soil is kept constantly humid, otherwise a shady area is better. It should be watered moderately, making sure that the soil is never dry or that there is stagnation of water.

Senecio

There is no shortage of options for those who love succulents. As an evergreen species hanging from a balcony, the senecio is an excellent solution. In fact, native to Africa and belonging to the family of Asteraceae, Senecio is a succulent perennial succulent plant widely used to decorate and beautify all exteriors, from terraces to gardens, thanks to its characteristic round leaves that resemble a balloon. However, there are many varieties. For example, the macroglossus it is considered the most ornamental and scenographic thanks to its dark green leaves that recall the shape of the ivy.

During the late summer and autumn months it offers a beautiful flowering which is distinguished by its yellow flowers similar to small daisies. Like most succulents, even the Senecio does not require much care for its cultivation as long as it is not planted. "outside if the temperature drops below zero. In areas where there is a mild climate, it can be grown in the garden close to walls or rock faces or suspended from a tree branch. Sun.

Lesser periwinkle

Native to Europe and the Tropics, the Pervinca belongs to the family of Apocinaceae and it is an evergreen perennial plant typical of the undergrowth. Depending on how it is cultivated, it has a hanging, ground cover or creeping habit and all this makes it perfect for decorating any type of exterior, whether it is a balcony as a single element or a garden together with other plants. It has a very original foliage, made up of small dark green oval-shaped leaves, while, in the case of the variegated periwinkle, they have a cream-colored border. Between April and June, the periwinkle gives a beautiful flowering. These are five-petalled hanging flowers that generally stand out for their blue-purple color, although there are cases of pink, white or red blooms.

All varieties of periwinkle need light and air, so they lend themselves to life outdoors and not in the apartment, except in the coldest winter months. In fact, between November and February, it can be kept indoors without direct contact. with heat sources and positioned near the external light. It should be watered very regularly in spring and summer, while in autumn and winter it will be sufficient to give a little water to keep the soil moist.