My Top Plant Choices for Balcony Gardens in Canberra

16 Sept

Here’s a page full of plants that I’ve selected as a sample palette for full-sun balconies. These plants work beautifully together, creating a well-balanced, resilient, and aesthetically pleasing garden. You could confidently get started by choosing from this selection.

If you’re interested in exploring additional plant options that will also thrive on a full-sun balcony in Canberra, feel free to download my full PDF here. It includes a larger, though not exhaustive, list of suitable species—primarily native plants with a few exotics to add some contrast.

Vines
(Climbers and Trailers for Vertical Interest)

Muehlenbeckia complexa
(Maidenhair Vine)

Hardenbergia violacea
(Purple Coral Pea)

Hardenbergia violacea, a native Australian vine, in full bloom with vibrant purple flowers cascading over a trellis, suitable for sunny or shaded balcony gardens. — This drought-tolerant native vine is perfect for providing vertical interest and softening hard surfaces. Its purple flowers attract pollinators, and it can handle both full sun and part shade.
*/ endemic / vine / pollinator /*

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Wire Vine) displaying its dense, wiry foliage, ideal for creating green coverage on balcony walls and as a ground cover. — This dense, wiry vine is incredibly adaptable and tough, making it perfect for low-maintenance balcony gardens. It’s great for use as a ground cover or in hanging baskets, providing versatile design options. Its ability to stabilize soil on slopes also adds an ecological benefit.
*/ exotic / atmosphere / layering /*

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper)

Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boiston Ivy)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, also known as Boston Ivy, is a vigorous climber that offers stunning red foliage in autumn. Great for softening balcony walls and trellises in Canberra. — Boston Ivy is a vigorous climber that creates a lush, green wall throughout the growing season, with dramatic red and orange foliage in autumn. Its ability to adhere strongly to surfaces makes it ideal for covering unsightly walls or adding character to a balcony space.
*/ deciduous vine / autumn colour / no trellis needed /*

Trees
(Microclimate, shade & structure)

Eucalyptus pulverulenta
(Silver-leaved Mountain Gum)

Eucalyptus albopurpurea
(Purple-flowered Mallee Box)

Pink flowers of Eucalyptus albopurpurea hanging delicately on leafy branches, against a natural backdrop. — This small to medium mallee tree is perfect for creating a windbreak or adding an ornamental feature to a garden. Its stunning purple flowers make it stand out, while its drought and frost tolerance make it ideal for Canberra’s tough climate. Additionally, it provides habitat and food for local wildlife.
*/ native / evergreen tree / unique flowers /*

Eucalyptus pulverulenta, a silver-leaved native gum tree, is ideal for balconies due to its compact size and stunning rounded leaves, perfect for Canberra’s conditions. — With its silvery-blue, rounded leaves and white flowers, this tree provides a striking foliage contrast. It’s popular for use in floral arrangements and adds a soft, ornamental touch to any garden. Its frost tolerance and suitability for full sun make it a reliable choice in Canberra. Look for the cultivar ‘Baby Blue’ for a striking dwarf variety of this tree. This gum responds well to pruning, allowing you to keep it well shaped for your balcony.
*/ native / evergreen tree / accent foliage /*

Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe Myrtle)

Lagerstroemia indica (White Crepe Myrtle) in bloom, featuring delicate clusters of white crinkled flowers. — *A white cultivar of Crepe Myrtle*

Shrubs
(Structure and Seasonal Interest)

Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia)

Banksia marginata is a hardy, compact shrub known for its iconic yellow cylindrical flowers and evergreen foliage. Perfect for creating structure in Canberra balcony gardens. — A hardy, winter-flowering shrub that provides beautiful blooms and structure to your garden. It’s perfect for adding texture and interest throughout the year. Banksia’s often struggle with poor drainage & too much phosphorus. In a potted situation using the substrate mix from this guide, this Banksia is likely to perform very well. Just be careful not to position it where it will experience severe frost.
*/ native / endemic / winter flowering / bird attracting /*

Correa Reflexa
(Native Fuschia)

Goodenia ovata
(Hop Goodenia)

Correa reflexa, with its bell-shaped red and green flowers, is a native evergreen shrub perfect for attracting birds and adding color to balcony gardens. — Correa reflexa is an adaptable shrub that thrives in full sun to part shade. Its colourful flowers attract birds and pollinators, making it an excellent addition to a wildlife-friendly balcony.
*/ native / bird attracting /*

Goodenia ovata is a fast-growing, sprawling shrub with vibrant green foliage and small yellow flowers, making it a versatile choice for balcony planters. — This robust shrub is versatile for different garden styles, offering bright green foliage and vibrant yellow flowers. It’s drought and frost-resistant, making it ideal for a balcony garden.
*/ fresh / native /*

Kunzea parvifolia (Violet Kunzea)

A cluster of pink Kunzea parvifolia flowers, with tiny, fluffy blossoms adorning the plant's thin branches. — Known for its hardiness, Kunzea parvifolia thrives in Canberra’s climate, offering resilience and year-round greenery. In spring, it produces masses of delicate pink to purple flowers, creating a striking visual display. The flowers attract pollinators, making it a beautiful and functional addition to any balcony garden. Its compact growth habit and vibrant blooms add texture and color, making it perfect for container gardening.
*/ endemic / native / pollinator /*

Rosmarinus officinalis
(Rosemary)

Leptospermum species
(Native Tea Trees)

White blossoms of Leptospermum (Native Tea Tree), featuring intricate petals and rich, sculptural form. — Known for their tough, sculptural forms, tea trees are perfect for adding structure while being highly drought-tolerant. They produce an abundance of flowers in spring, drawing pollinators in large numbers and turning your garden into a vibrant hub of life. Leptospermums require patience to establish but provides long-term rewards.
*/ native / drought tolerant / pollinator /*

Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) in bloom with soft purple flowers among aromatic green leaves. — A winter-flowering shrub, Rosemary is extremely tough and has the added benefit of supplying your kitchen. It’s a beautiful and functional addition to any balcony garden.
*/ winter flowering / exotic culinary herb /*

Groundcovers
(Low-Level Plants to Fill Gaps and Add Texture)

Bulbine bulbosa
(Bulbine Lily)

Austrostipa ramossisima
(Stout bamboo grass)

A lush, fine-textured Austrostipa ramosissima grass in a naturalistic setting, swaying in the wind. — This native grass is highly drought and frost tolerant, making it perfect for Canberra’s climate. It thrives in a wide range of soil conditions and has an extensive distribution, making it a resilient choice for balcony gardens. Its elegant, grass-like appearance adds movement and texture to the space.
*/ native / grass / movement /*

Bright yellow Bulbine bulbosa flowers in full bloom, showing off their vibrant petals — Bulbine bulbosa is perfect for tough conditions, with a fleshy root system that stores water. Its resilience makes it great for exposed balconies. It’s flower spikes can grow to 1m tall, feeding pollinators and it spreads itself effectively, filling in additional gaps.
*/ endemic / native / wildflower /*

Dianella longifolia (Smooth Flax Lily)

Dianella longifolia in bloom, with a line of small purple flowers on slender stems. — Dianella longifolia is an excellent, hardy choice for filling in spaces with low maintenance requirements. It spreads easily via it’s root system filling in the areas around where it was planted. Interestingly, the native Blue Banded Bee seems to love this plant and is often seen collecting nectar and pollen from it’s flowers.
*/ native / blue banded bee / spreading /*

Wahlenbergia stricta
(Native Bluebell)

Rhodanthe anthemoides
(Chamomile sunray)

Delicate white paper daisy blooms of Rhodanthe anthemoides, growing in clusters amid fine green foliage. — A great option for adding color and texture with its daisy-like flowers. This plant thrives in dry conditions and is perfect for containers.
*/ native / wildflower /*

A field of Wahlenbergia stricta, adorned with clusters of star-shaped blue flowers — The beautiful native bluebell is highly resilient. It is a reliable groundcover for Canberra’s climate. The bluebell is an effective self seeder, effectively filling gaps over time. Wahlenbergia contributes to biodiversity.
*/ native / wildflower / endemic / bluebell /*

Xerochrysum viscosum (Native Paper Daisy)

Bright yellow, daisy-like flowers of Xerochrysum viscosum, adding a pop of colour to the landscape. — The paper daisy. This drought-tolerant flower adds joyful color and texture, and its ability to thrive in dry conditions makes it ideal for a full-sun balcony. In exposed positions it usually dies back in winter, resprouting with fresh green foliage in spring.
*/ endemic / native / wildflower /*

This curated selection of plants is designed to provide a starting point for your full-sun balcony garden. These plants were chosen for their hardiness, beauty, and suitability for Canberra’s unique climate. If you’re looking for more diversity you can download my PDF here.

Want to keep reading?
Continue the series with Essential Concepts for Making a Thriving Balcony Garden in Canberra.

Want expert help?
For your own custom planting design check out my Balcony Design and Construction Services page.

Lach Richardson

Small Garden Specialist. Blending wild elements with modern technology to create functional and gorgeous ponds , courtyards, rooftop & balcony gardens.

https://www.lach-richardson.com