Plants for the Balcony and Window Box
Posted in House Plants on November 15th, 2011 by Dave Pinkney – Be the first to comment
1 Dorotheanthus bellidiformis Livingstone Daisy
2 Portulaca x grandiflora: Sun Plant, Rose Moss
3 Venidium fastuosum Monarch of the Veldt, Namaqualand Daisy
4 Verbena X rigida
These plants, each from a different family, appear to have little in common. They also come from different continents: dorotheanthus and portulaca from South Africa, the other two from the temperate Read more ... 
For those who like bright vivid colours this is definitely an annual that should not be overlooked. Though its flowers are not long-lasting, they are produced continuously so that the window-box makes a colourful display the whole summer long.
The approximately 130 species of the genus Eschscholzia grow wild in both North and South America. The most important of all is E. 
1 Gaillardia (Grandiflora-Hybrids): Blanket Flower
2 Coreopsis X grandiflora: Tickweed
3 Helenium x autumnale: Sneezeweed
4 Rudbeckia nitida: Coneflower
These flowers are allied not only in that they all belong to the same family but also in that they all (or at least the parent species) are native to Florida, where they grow as perennials. In Europe, however, they are 
The early 18th century saw the introduction of two of the fourteen South American species of Petunia into European gardens. Both were from Argentina, almost 1 m (3 ft) high, with glandular, sticky leaves and large fragrant flowers. The first, Petunia axillaris (syn. P. nyctaginiflora), was white, the second, P. violacea, had flowers coloured scarlet, carmine or pinkish violet. 
Creeping, climbing and trailing plants are generally popular but though annuals include such forms amongst their number they are by no means plentiful and besides, they are usually rather tender species. Nasturtium combines desirability of habit and hardiness, which is particularly welcomed by the working man and woman of today.
The approximately 80 species of the genus Tropaeolum 
Another plant selected for this brief survey is the well-known but often neglected reseda.
Reaching the peak of its popularity some 100 years ago when catalogues listed more than 30 sorts, it has since fallen into oblivion. This plant was always grown mainly for its fragrance, and that is something cities lack more now than a century ago. Furthermore, limiting of the assortment