The Mission: This is the third year I've chosen a native rush in the planter boxes that line my west-facing 13th floor balcony. I like to use grasses (or a rush in this case, it is not technically a grass) because it visually softens the concrete and metal edges of the balcony. Few other traditional annual plant species tolerate deep shade for most of the morning, followed by intense afternoon sun, and constant wind. Plants that have medium to large leaves (e.g. tomatoes) get shredded by the wind. Grasses and rush grasses will tolerate wind, heat, and some degree of drought. The Plant: Juncus inflexus , commonly known as blue arrow rush. It grows to a height of about 24 inches in the 5-gallon planter bags (but would likely grow higher, to 36 inches, if planted in the ground). Native to northern Europe and Asia, Juncus is also considered native to eastern North America. Although its seed heads are small and indistinct, the blades have a muted blue-green color during the grow...
A blog account of gardening from a high-rise apartment in a cold climate.