Vibrant spring natives for your city balcony

Spring is the absolute best time to brighten up your city balcony with some gorgeous plants. These days, more and more people are appreciating the beauty and hardiness of our native species and many of these can be grown in large pots.

Why not enjoy this lovely spring weather and add some vibrant spring natives to your balcony? For growing in pots, try to select compact or dwarf varieties as these will be much easier to maintain.

You also want to ensure that you select a pot that is large enough to allow for growth and has plenty of drainage holes.

Here are a few varieties to consider that grow well in the Sydney area.

Eremophila maculata (Spotted Emu Bush)

Eremophilas are very easy to grow and have the most delightful flowers. There are lots of different varieties to choose from so see what you can find at your local nursery or garden centre.

These plants also lend themselves beautifully to being pruned in order to maintain a compact shape.

Callistemon ‘Better John’

This is a dwarf cultivar of the popular bottlebrush species. It has gorgeous bright red bottlebrush flowers and is hardy. This is another native that benefits from regular tip pruning to maintain its compact shape.

What you want to do is just cut back behind the spent flowers and you’ll end up with a bushier plant.

Grevillea ‘Dwarf Greencape’

This dwarf Grevillea cultivar has the most delightful white and pink spider flowers that will appear for most of the year. It’s a compact plant that only reaches a height of around 60 cm. This makes it perfect for growing in a pot.

Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle)

Although this rainforest species can grow into a large tree when planted in the garden, growing it in a pot will restrict its growth and keep it more compact.

Correa alba ‘Dwarf’

Correa alba is a pretty native shrub that has soft grey-green leaves and masses of dainty white star-shaped flowers. Check your local nursery for the dwarf cultivar that will remain compact.

Where to buy your spring natives

There are plenty of nurseries and garden centres around the Neutral Bay area where you can buy your spring natives. Here’s just a small list.

Honeysuckle Garden

Honeysuckle Garden is located in Mossman and Turramurra. This nursery has a wide selection of plants as well as some gorgeous pots that would look fabulous on any balcony. You can also order online and have your purchases delivered to your door.

Sydney Wildflower Nursery

Although the Sydney Wildflower Nursery is located in Heathcote, you can purchase plants online and have them delivered to your door. They stock a huge selection of native plants including edible natives.

Bunnings Artarmon

You could also take a trip to Bunnings in Artarmon or check out their selection online. They usually have a good range of natives as well as pots, potting mix and everything else you’ll need to start growing on your balcony.

Looking after your plants and wildlife

Native plants aren’t that difficult to look after. All they generally need is a premium potting mix (select one specifically for natives) and a large pot. Try to select pots that are larger than 30 cm in diameter to give the roots of your plants plenty of space to grow.

You also need to remember that plants in pots will need more regular watering, because the soil will dry out really quickly, especially if your balcony is fairly sunny. How often you need to water will depend on the season.

If you’ve never grown plants in pots before, it’s a good idea to invest in an inexpensive moisture meter that will tell you when the soil is dry and your plant needs water.

Natives grown in pots will also benefit from an annual application of fertiliser. When selecting a fertiliser for your new native ‘garden’, make sure that you select one that is low in phosphorus as many native plants are sensitive to this nutrient. There is a range of fertilisers available that are specifically made for native plants.

You also want to make sure that you leave some water out for the birds that will come and visit your balcony garden to feed on the nectar in the flowers.

Add some furniture to your balcony

To complement your vibrant balcony, why not add a few select pieces of furniture where you can sit and enjoy your new ‘garden’?

Here are a couple of places to check out for inspiration:

• Osier Belle in Neutral Bay
• Osmen Outdoor Furniture in Mosman or Artarmon

Thinking of selling? Give us a call today

Spring is a great time to sell and making sure your balcony looks its best is a great idea. If you are thinking of selling in Neutral Bay, give us a call today.