Euphorbia lactea cristata, is an easy-to-grow succulent, resulting from the grafting of two species. That is, two plants in one! Its upper part is Euphorbia lactea and its color is silver-grey, which can turn reddish if the plant is happy in its environment. Its lower part is usually Euphorbia neriifolia. Its shape resembles a coral and resulted from a normal mutation of Euphorbia lactea and is also known as Coral plant. Prefer bright spots in the growing area. With gradual acclimatization, it can also live in direct sunlight.

Balsamina is a decorative, small and herbaceous plant of medium growth, with intense foliage and flowers in red and pink shades.

Balsamine (Impatiens balsamine) is also known as balsamine, impatience or love. This plant is preferred for gardens and terraces as it is easy to grow and does not need much care, it has a characteristic multi-month flowering and makes the most of shady places. The planting of the balsamina should be done in shady places and not have direct contact with the sun’s rays. In combination with plenty of water, the balsamina blooms both on the branches and throughout its central trunk.

There are many types and varieties of basil to choose from. We come across hundreds of varieties of basil, others with smaller or larger leaves, with different colors, tastes and aromas. It is important to mention that most varieties of basil are annuals while there are also some perennials. Depending on our preferences, we can choose curly, broad-leaved, Genovese, nightshade, red (purple), saint or tree basil.

The sunflower, the well-known sunflowers, is a favorite summer plant to decorate our garden or balcony to give us its impressive flowering. The name of the sunflower comes from the fact that its head constantly turns towards the sun’s rays during the day and turns again, in the morning hours, towards the east. The dwarf varieties of sunflower, which reach up to 40-50 cm in height, are suitable for pots, while for the garden we prefer the taller varieties that exceed one meter and are also edible. The characteristic color of sunflower flowers is yellow but now new sunflower varieties have been created in shades from pale yellow to red and brown.

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.

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