Here are some stunning Tall Plants for Balcony Privacy that you can also use for patio or a garden addition in pots.
Creating a natural privacy screen in the open space of your apartment or a patio can be an effective way to maintain a sense of solitude and block out dust and prying eyes. Here’s a curated list of Tall Plants for Balcony Privacy that also grow wide, offering dense foliage suitable for this purpose.
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Tall Plants for Balcony Privacy
1. Rhododendron
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Watering Guide: Regular, maintain moist soil
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Best Container Size: 14-20 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer
Rhododendrons are compact, evergreen shrubs with lush foliage and vibrant flowers. Their dense leaf structure offers good privacy and they can thrive in partial shade, making them ideal for balconies.
2. Japanese Maple
- Sunlight: Full sun to Partial shade
- Watering Guide: Regular, maintain moist soil
- USDA Zones: 5-9
- Best Container Size: 12-18 inches in diameter
- Leaf Color Change: Turn red, orange, or yellow in the fall
Japanese Maples have delicate, ornamental leaves that provide a colorful privacy screen. Small varieties like ‘Shaina’ and ‘Red Pygmy’ are perfect for limited spaces.
These types usually grow to a maximum of 4-6 feet and offer stunning foliage that changes color with the seasons.
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3. Rose Bush
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Watering Guide: Regular, do not let soil dry out
- USDA Zones: 2-11, varies by species
- Best Container Size: 12-18 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Late spring through fall, depending on the variety
Rose bushes can add fragrance as well as privacy to your balcony. Opt for shrub or miniature roses, which are easier to manage in confined spaces.
4. Bamboo
- Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
- Watering Guide: Regular watering, especially in dry conditions
- USDA Zones: 5-11
- 16-24 inches in diameter
Bamboo plants are fast-growers and can quickly form a tall, dense screen. For bamboo enthusiasts, consider clumping varieties such as ‘Fargesia murielae’ or ‘Fargesia robusta,’ which not only stay contained but also reach a manageable height of 6-12 feet.
5. Thuja
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Moderate, more in high heat
- USDA Zones: 2-7
- Best Container Size: 18-24 inches in diameter
Thuja is an evergreen conifer with a columnar shape, providing dense foliage for year-round privacy. They’re also low-maintenance and grow well in containers.
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6. Ficus
- Sunlight: Bright, indirect light
- Watering Guide: When topsoil is dry
- USDA Zones: 9-12
- Best Container Size: 14-20 inches in diameter
Ficus trees have dense, evergreen foliage. They can be pruned to maintain a desired shape and size, making them versatile for small spaces.
7. Boxwood
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Moderate
- USDA Zones: 5-9
- Best Container Size: 16-20 inches in diameter
Boxwood shrubs are known for their dense, evergreen leaves and their ability to be pruned into various shapes, offering a customizable privacy screen.
8. Morning Glory
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Watering Guide: Regular to moderate
- USDA Zones: Annual in all zones
- Best Container Size: 12-16 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Summer to early fall
Morning Glory vines can be trained to climb trellises, providing a vertical screen of greenery and flowers. Perfect for adding height to your balcony privacy.
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9. Clematis
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Regular, especially during dry spells
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Best Container Size: 12-18 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Late spring to early fall, depending on the variety
Clematis is another climbing plant, known for its showy flowers. It can be trained to grow vertically, making the most of limited floor space.
10. Conifer
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Regular, especially during dry spells
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Best Container Size: 12-18 inches in diameter
Smaller conifer varieties like ‘Mugo Pine’ or ‘Blue Star Juniper,’ which provide evergreen coverage and grow only up to 3-5 feet in height, can provide year-round, evergreen coverage. Their narrow, upright growth habit makes them suitable for small balconies.
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11. Oleander
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Watering Guide: Moderate
- USDA Zones: 8-12
- Best Container Size: 12-20 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Late spring to early fall
Oleander offers tall, slender leaves and vibrant flowers, making it a pretty yet effective privacy screen. Note that the plant is toxic if ingested.
12. Hibiscus
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Watering Guide: Regular, keep soil moist
- USDA Zones: 5-11
- Best Container Size: 16-20 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Late spring to early fall
Hibiscus plants provide large, showy flowers along with dense foliage. They can be pruned to manage their size and shape.
13. Yew
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Moderate
- USDA Zones: 4-7
- Best Container Size: 14-20 inches in diameter
Their dense, evergreen foliage provides good coverage and is easily pruned to maintain a tidy appearance, making them well-suited for containers.
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14. Cherry Blossom
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Moderate
- USDA Zones: 5-8
- Best Container Size: 12-20 inches in diameter
- Flowering Time: Spring
Dwarf varieties of Cherry Blossom trees can fit into small spaces and offer beautiful flowers and foliage. One top contender is the ‘Kojo-no-mai,’ a compact variety that typically grows to about 4-5 feet. In spring, it gets covered with delicate pink blossoms.
15. Ornamental Grass
- Sunlight: Indirect light to partial shade
- Watering Guide: Moderate
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Best Container Size: 12-18 inches in diameter
- Leaf Color Change: Some varieties change color in the fall
Ornamental grasses can add texture and movement to your balcony while offering some level of privacy. They are also low-maintenance.
