You pull a chair onto the balcony, sit down, and realize your neighbor has a clear view of your coffee break. Apartment Balcony Privacy Plants can soften that view, but the useful part is where their leaves sit, not the height printed on a nursery label.
Some choices below form dense screens; others provide a gentle filter or fill one opening. Mehedi Hasan is the founder and lead writer at GrowDwell, sharing practical gardening guidance based on careful research and real-world growing experience. This guide is based on information from university extensions, horticultural organizations, and trusted gardening resources to provide accurate and practical advice.
Table of Contents
TL;DR
The most useful balcony screen puts healthy foliage between your seat and the unwanted view, while leaving room to move and water. Choose a plant that matches your actual sunlight, available container space, and winter arrangements, then decide whether seasonal privacy is enough or you need evergreen coverage.
- Choose Apartment Balcony Privacy Plants by foliage height and the specific view you want to block.
- Dense shrubs hide more; grasses and loosely trained vines filter views.
- Deciduous plants and annuals leave seasonal gaps.
- Check pet status, wet container weight, support permissions, and winter space before buying.
My leading option: Clumping bamboo suits a sheltered, partially shaded balcony with sufficient container space and reliable watering. NC State Extension describes Fargesia robusta as dense and moisture-loving, so it earns that recommendation only where those conditions fit.
Why These Apartment Balcony Privacy Plants Work for Renters
These plants offer identifiable screening roles in containers or on supports, allowing you to target an exposed corner without planting a permanent hedge. Their suitability still depends on the individual balcony: a leafy shrub needs floor space, a climber needs a stable trellis, and a hanging fern only covers the opening its fronds actually reach.
Dense screen, filtered screen, and partial gap filler are editorial descriptions, not measured privacy ratings. I would choose the viewing height first; an impressive flower stalk may leave your chair completely exposed.
Use these quick comparisons to narrow the list, then check the full entries. For the surrounding layout, our renter balcony garden ideas can help you keep seating and access practical.
| Plant | Best for | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clumping bamboo | Sheltered corner | Dense; evergreen |
| Feather reed grass | Sunny seating | Filtered; seasonal |
| Star jasmine | Supported panel | Leafy; climate-dependent |
| Lady palm | Sheltered shade | Filtered; frost-protected |
| Plant | Light and water | Pet or fit check |
|---|---|---|
| Clumping bamboo | Partial shade; consistent moisture | Exact-species pet status unverified |
| Feather reed grass | Sun; avoid prolonged drying | Winter gaps; pet status unverified |
| Star jasmine | Sun or partial shade; drainage | ASPCA non-toxic; needs support |
| Lady palm | Indirect light; regular watering | ASPCA non-toxic; slow to fill |
The right screen leaves enough balcony for you to use.
The 21 Plants, Grouped by Screening Style
Start with upright plants if you have floor space, climbers if you can install suitable support, or leafy shade plants for a protected corner. The first nine choices provide upright structure, the next four climb, and the final eight offer broader foliage or seasonal coverage; mature landscape dimensions are not guaranteed container sizes.
Reading the pet notes: “Unverified” means an exact-species cat-and-dog classification wasn’t established from the veterinary sources checked here, not that poisoning is confirmed. The ASPCA says its plant database isn’t exhaustive; even non-toxic plants shouldn’t become snacks.
1. Clumping Bamboo (Fargesia robusta)
Best use: A dense evergreen screen beside a sheltered seating area. Numerous leafy canes give more continuous cover than an isolated tree trunk, although young plants won’t immediately fill a wide opening.
NC State Extension recommends partial shade, shelter, and moist but well-drained growing conditions. Its landscape height can reach 10-15 feet, which makes “clumping” a description of its growth habit, not a promise that it stays small.
Choose a substantial container suited to the root ball and allow for later division or repotting. I would prioritize the eventual container footprint over the slender appearance of young canes; a narrow-looking plant can still become a difficult moving-day companion.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here. ASPCA’s non-toxic bamboo entry names Phyllostachys aurea, a different species, so it doesn’t directly verify this selection.
Skip this if: You cannot provide dependable moisture, room for root management, or protection from drying exposure.
2. Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
Best use: An upright, filtered screen that keeps a sunny balcony feeling open. The distinction between leafy clump and flower stems matters: the tallest points are slender stems, and you can see between them.
University of Wisconsin Extension identifies ‘Karl Foerster’ as suitable for patio containers and seasonal screening. Give it sun and a well-drained growing medium, monitoring container moisture instead of assuming an established landscape plant’s drought tolerance makes a pot maintenance-free.
Set the pot beside the chair and assess the foliage from sitting height before buying multiples. Leave room around the clump for watering and eventual division rather than wedging several plants tightly together.
Dry stems can remain attractive in winter, but they don’t provide evergreen opacity. Cutting back for spring growth temporarily removes the screen altogether.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified in the veterinary sources checked.
Skip this if: You need a solid year-round barrier or the balcony receives very little direct sunlight.
3. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’)
Best use: A relatively upright summer foliage screen on a sunny balcony. ‘Northwind’ has a columnar habit, but its airy flower heads should still be treated as a filter.
NC State Extension gives landscape dimensions of roughly 4.5-5 feet tall and 2.5-3 feet wide. It recommends full sun and notes that excessive richness, wetness, or shade can weaken the upright form.
That width deserves attention even when a nursery pot looks compact. Reserve space for the foliage as well as the container, and keep drainage holes clear rather than leaving the pot standing in collected water.
This warm-season perennial develops its useful screen during active growth. Winter foliage turns dry and pale, and the late-winter or early-spring cutback creates a temporary opening.
Pets: Exact-species cat-and-dog status unverified here; don’t interpret its wildlife value as a pet-safety classification.
Skip this if: You need immediate early-spring privacy or cannot accommodate the mature clump’s width.
4. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Best use: Light filtering around a sunny seating corner. Little bluestem is useful when you want a softer view and moving foliage without completely hiding the surroundings.
NC State Extension describes container suitability, full-sun preference, and a typical height of 2-4 feet. It favors well-drained conditions and handles relatively dry soil once established, although a container still requires moisture checks.
Choose the actual cultivar by its mature dimensions, because the species name alone doesn’t establish the final silhouette. Allow the clump to spread naturally instead of expecting a narrow strip of foliage to behave like a clipped hedge.
Its coppery seasonal color adds interest after summer, but the winter outline remains permeable. Spring cutback removes that remaining cover until new growth develops.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified in the veterinary sources reviewed.
Skip this if: A clearly visible neighboring window is the problem and you need dense foliage at standing eye level.
5. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)
Best use: Dense evergreen coverage on a larger balcony with approved container capacity. Branches clothed close to the base make this more useful for screening than a small tree with a bare trunk.
Missouri Botanical Garden lists a common landscape size of 7-15 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. That is a substantial shrub, even though it is often sold as a tidy young cone.
Provide sun to partial shade, consistent moisture, and drainage. The container must accommodate root growth and remain manageable when wet; adding a heavy pot doesn’t automatically make a tall plant safe in balcony wind.
Evergreen foliage can provide winter cover, but exposed roots and drying winter conditions still require a local overwintering plan. Decide how the plant will eventually be repotted or removed before installing it.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here.
Skip this if: Your balcony is tiny, weight limits are unknown, or moving a mature container would be impractical.
6. Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’)
Best use: Filling a narrow side opening with evergreen foliage. One slender column can interrupt a particular sightline, but it won’t cover an entire railing.
NC State Extension identifies ‘Sky Pencil’ as container-suitable and recommends sun to partial shade with acidic, well-drained conditions. It can reach 4-10 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide, and needs protection from wind and cold.
Keep moisture reasonably consistent instead of alternating between prolonged drought and soaking. Its naturally upright form reduces the need for constant shaping, although the roots still need space as the plant grows.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here. ASPCA’s toxic holly entry names Ilex opaca, while this plant is Ilex crenata; that mismatch isn’t a reason to assume safety.
Skip this if: Pets chew accessible shrubs, the site is strongly exposed, or you need broad coverage from one plant.
7. Sasanqua Camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
Best use: A leafy evergreen screen with seasonal flowers on a sheltered balcony. Choose a cultivar with suitable dimensions and low branching, rather than buying by flower color alone.
NC State Extension recommends well-drained, neutral-to-acidic conditions and protection from harsh afternoon sun and winter winds. The foliage supplies the privacy; flowers add seasonal interest without changing the underlying screening role.
A broad container and an appropriate acidic potting mix make more sense than a tiny decorative cachepot. Check moisture within the root ball, particularly if rain cannot reach beneath the balcony roof.
Inspect the lower branches before purchasing. A nursery specimen trained into a tree shape may leave exactly the seated-height gap you’re trying to close.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here; ASPCA’s non-toxic camellia listing identifies Camellia japonica, not C. sasanqua.
Skip this if: You cannot accommodate the chosen cultivar’s spread or provide suitable root conditions and shelter.
8. Maki Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Maki’)
Best use: A maintained evergreen screen in suitable warm conditions. Its narrow leaves and dense branching lend themselves to a more controlled outline than an arching palm.
NC State Extension lists this plant as Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki, with a landscape height around 8-10 feet. It prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, and tolerates shaping.
Clipping the top doesn’t remove the need for root space. Leave access around the pot for pruning, checking drainage, and eventually dealing with root-bound growth.
Its evergreen habit is useful only if your climate and container overwintering conditions allow it to remain healthy outside. Treat the long-term footprint as part of the purchase.
Pets: Toxic to cats and dogs according to ASPCA’s Buddhist pine listing, which uses the name Podocarpus macrophylla.
Skip this if: Pets can reach it or you want a shrub that never needs size management.
9. Blue Arrow Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’)
Best use: A narrow evergreen accent that blocks a limited sightline. Blue-gray foliage gives this conifer a different appearance from green holly or arborvitae, but the footprint question remains the same.
The Royal Horticultural Society describes ‘Blue Arrow’ as narrowly columnar and suited to well-drained conditions in sun or partial shade. A bright position is a sensible starting point when evaluating a balcony site.
Choose a container with room for the existing roots and future management, then assess the whole plant’s stability. Don’t balance a tall specimen in a narrow ornamental pot simply because the foliage is slender.
Provide water when the growing medium needs it, while avoiding persistent saturation. Winter root protection still matters, even though the foliage remains evergreen.
Pets: Exact-species cat-and-dog status unverified in the reviewed veterinary sources.
Skip this if: You need a broad hedge, the container stays wet, or the site exposes a tall plant to strong gusts.
10. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Best use: A leafy panel on a suitable trellis in a mild, sheltered location. Training stems sideways as well as upward helps distribute foliage across the opening.
NC State Extension identifies star jasmine as an evergreen vine suited to sun or partial shade and well-drained conditions. Its potential spread means a small support requires ongoing training and pruning.
Give the root ball adequate container space and use soft plant ties where guidance is needed. A support that looks sturdy while bare may behave differently once covered in wind-catching foliage.
Expect gaps during establishment and reduced reliability where winter conditions damage the plant. A decorative trellis alone doesn’t guarantee privacy.
Pets: ASPCA lists this exact species as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Match the botanical name, because unrelated plants also carry “jasmine” names.
Skip this if: You cannot provide an approved, stable support or need a completely filled panel immediately.
11. Compact Clematis (Clematis ‘Fleuri’)
Best use: A modest seasonal trellis screen with large purple flowers. Sold as Fleuri, this cultivar is also identified as ‘Evipo042’, which helps avoid buying a much larger clematis by mistake.
The RHS gives a mature height around 1-1.5 meters and recommends sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained conditions. That makes it useful near seating, while leaving realistic limits on the area one plant can cover.
Provide a roomy, deep container and a support the leaf stalks can grip. Keep the root zone from overheating and don’t allow the pot to dry repeatedly.
It’s deciduous, so winter privacy disappears. RHS guidance allows light Group 2 pruning for earlier flowers, with harder Group 3 pruning as an alternative that changes the growth and flowering pattern.
Pets: ASPCA classifies Clematis species as toxic to cats and dogs.
Skip this if: Pets nibble vines or the screen must stay leafy through winter.
12. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Best use: A flowering vertical filter where a vigorous vine can be managed. This eastern North American species should be distinguished from other plants sold simply as honeysuckle.
NC State Extension describes a twining vine capable of reaching 10-20 feet, with best flowering in full sun and a preference for medium moisture and good drainage. A balcony trellis therefore requires active containment, not just initial installation.
Use a substantial container and a support that stays within your own space. Guide new stems across the useful screening area and keep them away from neighboring railings or building fixtures.
Its name suggests evergreen foliage, but dependable leaf retention is associated with warm winters. In colder conditions, treat it as a seasonal screen and expect open gaps between stems.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified in the veterinary sources checked; wildlife use doesn’t establish safety for pets.
Skip this if: You have a tiny support, need guaranteed winter cover, or cannot keep the vine contained.
13. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
Best use: A summer trellis screen for someone comfortable with seasonal replacement. Its twining stems and broad leaves can cover useful patches as growth develops.
NC State Extension recommends sun with some afternoon shade, medium moisture, and good drainage. This tropical tender plant is commonly grown as an annual where frost ends the season; it can become weedy in frost-free regions.
Check local invasive-plant guidance before choosing it. Give the roots adequate pot space and train shoots across the panel early, since a bundle of stems at the top leaves the lower opening exposed.
I would count the trellis footprint before choosing the vine. The support still needs somewhere stable to stand, and its base may occupy more floor than the nursery pot suggests.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here; this isn’t the same plant as black-eyed Susan in the genus Rudbeckia.
Skip this if: You need permanent winter privacy or local guidance discourages planting it.
14. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Best use: A feathery, filtered screen beside seating in warm, sheltered conditions. Its arching fronds spread well beyond the pot, which is useful for cover but easy to underestimate.
NC State Extension now lists it as Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, with Dypsis lutescens as a synonym. It recommends moist but well-drained conditions and partial shade outdoors, with bright indirect light for indoor growing.
Choose a specimen whose existing fronds reach the required sightline. A small starter palm won’t provide the same effect, and tying fronds into a tight bundle defeats their screening value.
The foliage stays evergreen under suitable conditions, but a cold-winter balcony needs an indoor destination. Measure that destination too, using our tall indoor plant ideas for placement considerations.
Pets: ASPCA lists Dypsis lutescens as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Skip this if: Wind regularly lashes the balcony or winter storage would block your living space.
15. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Best use: A structured leafy filter in sheltered shade. The fan-shaped leaves create broader visual patches than areca’s fine leaflets, although gaps remain between stems.
NC State Extension recommends indirect light, well-drained potting soil, and regular watering, reduced during slower winter growth. Its clustering habit provides useful structure, but a young plant takes time to become a substantial screen.
Buy by the foliage already present if privacy is needed this season. Check the view through the lower stems, and choose a pot that accommodates the clump without consuming the entire corner.
Keep it protected from harsh exposure and make a frost-free winter plan where necessary. Our pet friendly apartment plants guide offers other indoor options when space is limited.
Pets: ASPCA lists lady palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs under an older botanical name.
Skip this if: You expect a small starter plant to fill a large opening quickly.
16. Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)
Best use: Broad-leaf coverage in a protected shaded corner. Large, lobed leaves interrupt a view effectively where they overlap, but the plant’s spreading shape needs room.
NC State Extension recommends partial to full shade and moist, well-drained conditions. It notes that full sun and wind exposure can brown the foliage, directly reducing the screen you’re trying to maintain.
A young container specimen can fit a balcony, but the species becomes a substantial shrub. Leave room for leaves beyond the pot rim and plan for pruning or eventual relocation.
Position it beside the chair rather than in the route to the door. Evergreen coverage depends on a suitable climate and winter protection for the container.
Pets: ASPCA lists Fatsia japonica as non-toxic to cats and dogs under “figleaf palm.”
Skip this if: The balcony is narrow enough that broad leaves would force you to squeeze past them.
17. Canna (Canna indica)
Best use: Broad-leaf summer screening at seated height. Overlapping leaves do most of the work, so choose by expected foliage height rather than flower-stem height alone.
NC State Extension describes Canna indica as suitable for containers, with sunlight and moist, well-drained conditions. Its spreading rhizomes need room, and a substantial container becomes part of the overall footprint.
Check the label carefully because garden cannas include hybrids with different dimensions. A dwarf selection may sit below the required sightline, while a large one may overwhelm the available space.
Frost ends the above-ground screen. Where the rhizomes won’t survive outside, lifting and appropriate winter storage become part of the yearly routine.
Pets: ASPCA specifically lists Canna indica as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Its common “lily” name doesn’t make it a true lily.
Skip this if: You need winter foliage or cannot keep a thirsty summer container adequately watered.
18. Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Best use: A leafy flowering shrub for a warm-season balcony. Choose a bushy specimen with lower branches if screening matters more than the appearance of a miniature flowering tree.
NC State Extension recommends sun to partial shade, moist well-drained conditions, and protection from wind and frost. It also notes that environmental changes can trigger leaf and bud drop.
Allow for a broad crown and a container you can actually move. A shrub that fits outside may become awkward indoors once neighboring furniture and window access are considered.
It can remain evergreen in suitable warmth, but cold-climate readers should plan seasonal outdoor use. Inspect for pests before bringing it indoors, and avoid expecting unchanged foliage immediately after the move.
Pets: Exact-species status unverified here; ASPCA’s “hibiscus” entry identifies Hibiscus syriacus, a different plant.
Skip this if: You lack a bright winter location or want a screen with minimal seasonal handling.
19. Compact Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’)
Best use: A rounded summer screen beside a chair. The leafy branching structure provides coverage, while the pale flower clusters make the screen more noticeable.
The RHS describes Little Lime, also identified as ‘Jane’, as a deciduous shrub reaching roughly 1-1.5 meters in height and spread. Its width can be just as important as its height on a balcony.
Give it sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained growing conditions. Choose a roomy container and keep access to the soil surface so watering doesn’t become a daily struggle through crowded branches.
Winter leaf loss exposes the space again. Dried flower heads and woody stems may remain decorative, but they cannot substitute for the summer foliage.
Pets: Pet Poison Helpline classifies Hydrangea species as toxic to pets, so keep this selection away from plant-chewing cats and dogs.
Skip this if: The available corner is narrow, pets can reach the plant, or year-round opacity is essential.
20. Branching Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Best use: A temporary summer filter for readers happy to replant. Choose a moderate-height branching cultivar rather than a giant competition sunflower or a very short bedding type.
NC State Extension identifies Helianthus annuus as an annual with substantial variation in size. Full sun supports growth, but a tall flower head above a sparse stem doesn’t automatically provide useful screening.
Check the cultivar’s leaf distribution and mature width before deciding how many fit. Use an adequately sized container, keep moisture consistent, and provide support where the selected stems need it.
Expect an establishment period, a useful growing season, and eventual decline. This is a seasonal planting project, not a permanent solution for an exposed window.
Pets: Exact-species verification wasn’t established here; ASPCA’s sunflower page names swamp sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius, rather than this annual species.
Skip this if: Strong wind is routine or annual replanting sounds like a chore.
21. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’)
Best use: A partial gap filler on an approved hanging support or stable stand. A fern placed on the floor usually leaves higher sightlines open.
NC State Extension recommends bright indirect light, humidity, and consistently moist growing conditions. Its arching fronds suit hanging containers, while harsh sun and drying exposure make a sheltered location preferable.
Account for the wet container’s weight and keep the plant within easy watering reach. Catch runoff appropriately, without leaving the roots continuously submerged.
I would use a fern to fill one exposed opening rather than expect a single basket to cover the whole balcony. It also needs frost protection, so a seasonal move indoors may be necessary.
Pets: ASPCA lists Boston fern as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Our plants for cats and dogs guide helps distinguish it from other plants called ferns.
Skip this if: You need a tall floor-standing screen or cannot reach the basket to check moisture.
Choose the plant whose leafy portion fits the opening, then accept or plan around its seasonal gaps.
How to Pick the Right One for Your Balcony
Measure the unwanted sightline from your normal seat, observe direct sunlight, and check the space available for both pot and foliage before choosing a plant. Then rule out anything incompatible with pet access, building requirements, watering arrangements, or winter storage; those constraints determine whether a promising screen will remain practical.
Start with the site: A sunny, exposed balcony needs a separate wind assessment; a shaded corner may suit lady palm or fatsia. North-facing doesn’t automatically mean dark, so observe the actual light rather than relying on direction alone.
The USDA hardiness map describes average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. It doesn’t summarize summer heat, reflected heat, balcony wind, or container-root exposure.
Check the container: University of Maryland Extension highlights watering demands and the weight of container gardens. Confirm permitted loads, attachments, drainage, and unobstructed exits with building management; never assume a railing can support a planted screen.
Use drainage holes and suitable potting mix, and plan runoff before watering. For container basics, see how to repot a houseplant, then follow the chosen outdoor plant’s specific needs.
Plan winter now: University of New Hampshire Extension explains that container roots face greater winter exposure than roots in the ground. If there’s nowhere to keep a large tropical plant in winter, I would treat that as a buying constraint now.
Buy for the conditions you can provide, including the inconvenient season.
FAQs
Will privacy plants make my small balcony feel cramped?
They can feel cramped if you choose plants by height alone and ignore their spread. Measure both the container and the foliage, then place a suitable plant beside your chair or across one exposed opening instead of filling the entire railing. Keep enough room to reach the door, water the pots, and pull out your chair comfortably.
What is the best plant for privacy on an apartment balcony?
Clumping bamboo, specifically Fargesia robusta, is a strong choice for dense screening on a sheltered, partially shaded balcony with ample container space. NC State Extension recommends moist, well-drained conditions, so dependable watering matters. It is not the best fit for every apartment: limited root space, drying exposure, or difficult future repotting can make another plant more practical.
What privacy plants can I grow on a shaded balcony?
Lady palm and Japanese aralia can suit sheltered shaded balconies when their care requirements match the site. Lady palm offers a leafy filter in indirect light, while Japanese aralia provides broader leaves but needs more spreading room. Check the light actually reaching the foliage, leave the walkway open, and plan frost protection or indoor winter storage where necessary.
Do balcony privacy plants provide cover all year?
No, many balcony privacy plants provide only seasonal coverage, even when their stems remain visible in winter. Evergreen choices such as clumping bamboo and Emerald Green arborvitae can retain foliage where conditions suit them, while clematis and Little Lime hydrangea lose their leaves. Container roots may still need protection, and tropical options may require a suitable indoor winter location.
Are balcony privacy plants safe for cats and dogs?
Not all balcony privacy plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs; the exact botanical name matters. ASPCA lists star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, and Boston fern as non-toxic, but the article also includes plants classified as toxic and others whose exact-species status was not verified. Match nursery labels carefully, discourage chewing, and do not interpret an unverified listing as reassurance.
How tall should balcony privacy plants be?
Balcony privacy plants need leaves at the height of the view you want to block, not simply tall stems. Check the sightline from your usual seat and compare it with the actual foliage on the plant you plan to buy. Feather reed grass illustrates the difference: its airy flower stems can rise above the lower leafy clump without hiding you.
What Actually Matters
Apartment Balcony Privacy Plants work best when their foliage blocks the view you actually want to hide. A smaller, well-positioned plant can be more useful than a tall specimen with bare lower stems, provided its light, container, seasonal coverage, and maintenance needs fit the space.
Start by measuring one exposed opening. Shortlist one or two suitable plants, then check their existing foliage from sitting height before committing to a whole row.
Leave room to water, walk, and pull out your chair. The goal is a balcony where you can settle in with your coffee and feel comfortable staying awhile.
