I plan to enliven my living room view out onto my balcony with a flowering garden. From some of you smart, experienced gardeners out there, I'd like to hear your flower plant suggestions, which are:
long-blossoming and dense with flowers;
preferably perennials, but will do annuals if they are riotously colorful;
potted - mix of heights .. 30-40 cm (12-15 inches) in the foreground .. 90-110 cm (36-45 inches) in the background;
hanging plants suspended on a wall - foliage draping down of any length;
strong colorfully-leaved (with/without flowers) like 'Purple Heart';
not too delicate and require no babying;
easily pruned to increased their density;
strongly fragrant is a major plus;
maybe include one tall-ish, wispy-ish, tree-ish decorative plant at the very back of the balcony (I love Japanese Maples, but have seen none here); and,
purchased potted, or as seedlings - not grown from seeds.
My balcony is 100% shaded for about 8 months annually and 50% direct afternoon sunlight for about 4 months annually.
I will install a drip irrigation system on a timer and I have a pretty good sense for soil mixing and fertilization.
The general planting plan is a single row of low-height plants (12-15 inches), backed by a single row of taller plants (36-45 inches).
Any ideas out there?
Thanks!