The use of plants on balconies in the city

Abstract

As a popular and excellent place for plants, balconies enable people easy access to and close contact with nature, thus forming an integral part of the urban green infrastructure. The aim of the study was to assess the use of plants on balconies of detached houses and blocks of flats in the small Polish town of Sieraków. Plants were grown on about 33% of the balconies of detached houses and on 51% of the balconies of blocks of flats. Most of the balconies were decorated with one plant species only and the plants were most frequently placed on the railing. The most popular plant species were Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L’Hér., Pelargonium zonale (L.) L’Hér. and Petunia × atkinsiana D. Don. There were no large differences between both the building types as regards to the balcony decoration.