Balcony scene

Situated in an apartment block in Sydney’s south-west is a modest-sized balcony garden filled with the most wonderful jewels. Numerous tillandsias festoon the boundary wall and kaffir, cumquat and honeysuckle trees elevate and frame the display, while myriad succulents, cacti, roses, bulbs and bromeliads anchor the scene. Measuring just 24m², the space is alive with texture and colour. Owner, horticulturist, self-confessed plant addict and regular contributor to Gardening Australia Steve Falcioni estimates he has “hundreds of plants squashed in here”.

To maximise the size of his new balcony – without cramping the look and feel of the space – he layers plantings, with tall plants at the back, then medium-sized perennials, and smaller specimens to the front. And they’re not all housed in pots. “It’s hard to tell, but large UV-treated plastic troughs are arranged in a U-shape around the perimeter of the garden,” he says. “They are raised on bricks at slightly different heights, giving the illusion of depth.”

The garden is in full sun for most of the day, and exposed to drying winds, so Steve is realistic about choosing plants that will tolerate harsh conditions. “I’m a sucker for succulents,” he says. “There are all sorts of forms, textures and shapes to enjoy, and they’re easy and well suited to growing in pots and difficult situations.”

Bromeliads, including tillandsias, provide high interest but are low maintenance, and Steve is obsessed with them. Steve says it’s the variety between the species that keeps him fascinated. “You can have things happening with different ones at different times of year, so even though it’s a wall of tillandsias or a mix of potted bromeliads, they’re all doing different things. They’re forgiving too, and I know they will be fine if they go weeks without water.”

One of the more exotic jewels is an African bonsai (Trichodiadema intonsum). It’s a caudiciform succulent with wiry stems that emerge from a thickened root system, or caudex – it’s a fabulous container plant. In line with the strange and wonderful, Steve says he is also “in love” with his Eucrosia mirabilis, a rare bulb that produces an umbel of yellow-green flowers with long, white filaments (stamens) that are arranged like a Victorian lampshade.

It’s hard to miss the pops of colour in Steve’s garden. He uses annuals such as alyssum, linaria, Johnny jump-up (Viola tricolor), little viola, zinnias, lobelias and rainbow chrysanthemums to liven things up and create a sense of anticipation. He doesn’t follow any strict rules with them. “I just grab whatever I like the look of, shove it in and hopefully it harmonises,” he says.

Steve recently started acquiring plants within the Streptocarpus genus (including African violets), as he’s drawn to their showy, long-lived blooms. So far, he has six or seven plants living happily indoors. “I’m trying to decide whether that’s enough or if I can justify getting more,” he says. Given that he is a self-confessed plant addict, we suspect it’s likely the latter.

Want to create your own balcony garden? Check out our buying guide, here.

Header image credit: Brent Wilson