10 Edible Plants You Can Grow on a Balcony • Schisandra & Bergamot

Tired of the same old tomato and basil routine? With a little creativity, your balcony can be a home for lesser-known but just-as-delicious edible plants.

These 10 unique picks grow well in containers, offer exciting flavors, and add a fresh twist to your balcony garden.

Shiso (Perilla frutescens)

Close-up of a shiso plant with jagged, purple-green leaves. — Photo Credit: ChWeiss/Deposit Photos

Popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine, shiso has bold, aromatic leaves with hints of mint and basil. It grows quickly in pots, thrives in sun or partial shade, and adds a gourmet twist to salads and wraps.

Malabar Spinach (Basella alba)

A bamboo plate filled with fresh green spinach leaves on a white background. — Photo Credit: [email protected]/Deposit Photos

This heat-loving vine isn’t a true spinach, but its thick, glossy leaves are edible and nutrient-packed. It climbs beautifully with support, making it ideal for vertical balcony gardening.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

A large clump of tall, green grass with long, thin blades grows in a garden setting under a clear sky. — Photo Credit: sarangib/Pixabay

Lemongrass grows tall and elegant in containers and brings a citrusy punch to teas and stir-fries. It loves full sun and warmth—perfect for balcony growing in hot climates.

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

A cluster of green spinach leaves growing in a garden next to soil. — Photo Credit: Reflexpixel/Deposit Photos

This tangy green grows fast in containers and adds a lemony zing to salads, sauces, and soups. It prefers cooler temps and partial sun, making it a great spring or fall balcony crop.

Egyptian Walking Onion

Close-up of wild garlic with bulbils and green stem curling around. — Photo Credit: orestligetka.ukr.net/Deposit Photos

This quirky, perennial onion produces edible bulbs, greens, and even bulbils you can plant again. It grows well in containers and practically takes care of itself—ideal for low-maintenance gardening.

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)

Bright orange and red nasturtium flowers with green leaves in sunlight. — Photo Credit: zoosnow/Pixabay

These vibrant flowers aren’t just pretty—they’re fully edible, with peppery leaves and blossoms perfect for salads. They trail or climb easily and thrive in containers with sun and well-draining soil.

Dwarf Fig Tree (Ficus carica ‘Petite Negra’ or similar)

A small fig tree with green leaves and unripe figs growing in a rectangular bonsai pot, placed on a wooden surface against a plain background. — Photo Credit: Armacuatro/Deposit Photos

Yes, you can grow your own figs on a balcony! Compact fig trees do well in large containers, and with enough sun, they’ll reward you with sweet, jammy fruit in late summer.

Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor)

A plant with elongated, wavy leaves in bright yellow, red, and green colors, growing in a garden bed with other green plants in the background. — Photo Credit: pundit2006/Deposit Photos

This vibrant leafy green is both ornamental and edible. Use the young leaves like spinach, or grow grain varieties for nutritious seeds. It's heat-tolerant, colorful, and a balcony showstopper.

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)

Close-up of fresh green parsley leaves growing in a garden. — Photo Credit: ivabalk/Pixabay

A delicate herb with a mild, anise-like flavor, chervil is a staple in French cuisine. It prefers cooler temps and partial shade, growing well in small pots on sheltered balconies.

Strawberry Spinach (Blitum capitatum)

A close-up of green leafy plants with clusters of small, red, textured berries growing on thin stems. — Photo Credit: Nikilev/Deposit Photos

This old-fashioned edible offers both spinach-like greens and small red berries. It’s a conversation starter, easy to grow in containers, and does double duty in both salads and smoothies.

You don’t have to stick to the usual suspects to enjoy balcony-grown goodness. These unique edible plants bring fresh flavors, bold looks, and a fun twist to container gardening. Try something unexpected—and turn your small space into a delicious conversation piece.