Tiny balcony in Houston, TX

19 years ago

I need advice on planting a fast growing, relatively small-leaved climber to grow up a wall on a tiny enclosed 12th floor balcony facing north-northwest in Houston (zone 9-a). The building walls (poured concrete) form the east and west walls, the slider into the dining area forms the third, and a simple iron railing runs across the open side. I want to plant something in a rectangular planter along the eastern (western facing) wall that will form a nice layer of green on the wall in a fairly short time. I'll have to trellis it somehow (I'm thinking a few tall redwood sticks in the planter and fishing line), as the apartment is rented, and I don't want to do anything to the walls themselves. Because it is enclosed, the wall doesn't get a lot of direct sun all day, but Houston is hot hot hot in the summer, and I want a cooling effect with something that can take it. Flowers would be nice, but greenery is more important, and evergreen would be very nice, too. I am a Virginia girl, and have no idea what to do in Texas! And since I will not be there all the time, and my DH is not, shall we say, entirely reliable in the plant care department, I need it to be fairly forgiving. Ideas?

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Comments (5)

jenny_in_se_pa
19 years ago
For that exposure, why not try a clematis? They can put up a nice viney foliage screen and will bloom. The type 3 is easy maintenance as it blooms on new growth (you can cut back to the first couple sets of buds in late winter - I'll be cutting mine back probably next weekend). They have a main bloom in early summer and a rebloom later in the season.
whytephoenix
19 years ago
Hi and welcome to Houston!
Creeping fig - evergreen, no flowers (though there's a varigated type.) They get pretty rampant. you'll see them a lot in Houston on the walls. Very easy care. easy to find in landscape places, they're often already kind of large.

Grape ivy - sold as a houseplant sometimes.

I'll think a little harder to see if there are more flowery options. I'm imagining strong afternoon sun? trumpet creeper's fairly rampant and would probably work. a lot of people hate this plant for this. But it's pretty and you'd have better control over it in a container three floors up.

One thing - no matter what, you/DH will have to water it a lot. that's pretty much a given for TX containers.
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bonnie_2006
19 years ago
clematis dont do well in Houston,its too hot here
jenny_in_se_pa
19 years ago
bonnie - if the OP's balcony is facing N-NW, then it won't be getting blazing hot sun. As long as it is watered well and back from the rail, it may do okay. As it is, they are often grown in hot mediterranean areas - particularly the group 1s that maintain a permanent vine structure.
bronwynsmom
Original Author
19 years ago
I went walkabout for a while...thank you for your suggestions! Am just now getting back to this part of the project. I have seen creeping fig everywhere, and it looks great...a nice cooling mat for the wall, and small enough in scale for the tiny balcony... We have yet to determine just how hot the balcony will get...we are on the 12th floor, and I don't know whether that means more or less mitigating breeze. We get lots of morning and afternoon light, but not much direct sun.
Thanks again!