Salvia is a perennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual. It is also called “fire” because of the arrangement and crimson color of its flowers. It belongs to the Labiatae family. The genus Salvia includes about 500 species of plants. Among them is the Mediterranean aromatic sage S. officinalis. Many varieties and hybrids have been created including Salvia x superba with its impressive purple-blue flowers. Salvia is native to Brazil and remains in bloom throughout summer and fall. Its decorative value is due to the rich flowering but also to the contrast created by the red flowers with the lively green foliage. It is planted in groups in rock gardens, lawns, flower beds and plant containers, alone or in combination with other annual plants. The combination of salvia and yellow amber is excellent!

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus, Fabaceae) is a genus of perennial and annual climbing plants native to the south-eastern Mediterranean, Italy, southern France and Greece. The musk pea Lathyrus odoratus is a genus of over thirty perennial and annual aromatic climbing plants, and belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is an annual climbing or erect plant with a height of 60-180 cm and a width of 40-80 cm. The leaves are grey-green, oval 5-7cm long, some have been formed into tendrils for climbing the plant. The flowers of the plant are large, fragrant, butterfly-shaped and grow many together in groups. Creates a rich and deep root system.

The primrose is the first flower to bloom in winter! Although a low-growing herbaceous perennial flower, the primrose is mainly planted as an annual ornamental and gives us its wonderful flowers from early January to late spring. The primula has characteristic lanceolate foliage that grows in the form of a rosette and is an ideal plant to plant in a pot on the balcony, as well as in the garden to create impressive color compositions. The name primrose comes from Latin and means first, confirming its early flowering in the heart of winter. There are, of course, some varieties of primrose that bloom in the autumn months. The leaves of the primrose resemble lettuce leaves, which is why many call it “lettuce”. There are many types of primroses with a wide variety of colors to choose from, from white, red, purple, yellow, pink, orange, blue, as well as striking bi-color varieties that have been created in recent years.

Gaillardia is an impressive flower with characteristic green-grey foliage and beautiful flowers that resemble daisies in shades of red, yellow and orange. Gaillardia is characterized by abundant and prolonged flowering that lasts from early summer to mid-autumn. It comes from America and belongs to the same family as the sunflower with several varieties, some annual and others perennial and a height varying between 30-90 cm. Gaillardia is an ideal choice for planting in a flower bed, in a rock garden, as well as in a pot on the balcony. The Gaillardia plant gives a wild flower feel to our garden and is also one of the plants that attract butterflies and birds. Gaillardia needs sunny positions to give us its impressive flowering. It wants light and sandy soil that has good drainage, as young Gaillardia plants are sensitive to excess moisture. To plant it in a pot on the balcony, we prefer places with southern exposure and relatively sheltered, as it is sensitive to low temperatures and strong north winds. In any case, we put a layer of gravel at the base of the pot to drain away the water and not to close the holes of the pot due to soil compression.

Portulaca, also known as silk, is an annual ornamental plant ideal for ground cover in rock gardens, but also for planting in hanging pots on the balcony. Portulaca originates from Brazil and is characterized by creeping vegetation and fleshy oval leaves. The impressive flowering of purslane lasts from spring to autumn, with single or double flowers, monochrome, two-color and even three-color, in shades of yellow, pink, orange, red and white. Portulaca has no particular soil requirements, although it prefers fertile soils with good drainage.

Petunias have compact, lush vegetation and fast growth, ideal for planting in flower beds and pots without needing too much care. They are particularly popular for their abundant flowering which, with proper care, lasts from early spring to late autumn. Petunia flowers, depending on the variety, can reach a size of 10-15 centimeters and we can choose between dozens of color combinations. There are many different species and varieties of petunias to plant in the garden and in pots. Petunias are divided into three main categories: a) large-flowered varieties of petunias (grandiflora type) with larger flowers, b) multi-flowered varieties (mutliflora type) with more medium-sized flowers and c) thousand-flowered varieties (milleflora type) with numerous small flowers