Neither are recommended for a particularly windy aspect. But most conifers would accommodate that....how about a dwarf conifer instead?

big city name ... we need location ...

what will you do with them in winter ... winter winds are usually the issue ...

a pot dropped from 15 stories.. might be considered a bomb.. lol ... how will you insure that anything of height.. wont blow off ???

how big is this balcony ... smoke bush.. even dwarf versions get relatively huge ... e.g.: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=dwarf+smoke+bush&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

ken

The OP is in New Jersey, Ken. How much more do you need than that? And growing any plant in a container is a natural dwarfing process. They will never achieve the same size they would in the ground.

Thank you for the suggestion gardengal48, I like the idea of a conifer too! I can look into some options. I've done some more homework on dogwoods and definitely doubt that will work. Still keeping fingers crossed for a dwarf river birch too though!

To answer some additional questions, I'm in Jersey City Heights about a mile in from the Hudson River. I'd like to leave the pots outside in the winter, but perhaps wrapped in burlap if need be. The balcony is 10' by 4' with railings just shy of 4' tall, I'd make sure any potentially taller plants were in short, heavy planters.

Thank you for the guidance!

I grow lots of plants on my very windy top floor balcony (15x5) in Jersey city facing the Hudson but I am on the 4th floor and not on a cliff. However, I mostly grow flowers and only leave a few pots out during the winter-a clematis, a raspberry, a peony and a couple of columbines. My balcony faces northwest so there really is no sun all winter. I agree that conifers would make for all year wind friendly greenery.