The heat-loving flower that keeps balcony gardens bright all summer

Anyone with a sunny balcony will know how difficult it can be to keep plants alive during a summer heatwave.

While spring and summer can bring beautiful colour to small outdoor spaces, extreme heat, strong sun and coastal winds can quickly damage many popular plants.

South-facing balconies can be especially challenging, with some plants exposed to five or six hours of strong afternoon sunshine every day.

Even with regular watering and moving pots around, many flowers can struggle once temperatures climb.

Hydrangeas are one example.

Although they are loved for their large pastel blooms, they usually prefer partial shade, gentle morning sun and protection from harsh afternoon heat.

They also need consistently moist but well-drained soil, which can be difficult to manage in containers during hot weather.

Other plants, including peonies, fuchsias, climbing plants and some roses, can also struggle on exposed balconies, especially in coastal areas where wind can damage fragile stems and shallow roots.

One flower that can cope far better with sunny, hot and exposed conditions is the French marigold.

French marigolds are half-hardy annual flowers that bloom repeatedly through spring, summer and into early autumn.

They come in bold shades of orange, red and yellow, making them perfect for adding colour to balconies, patios and small gardens.

They also have feathery leaves and a citrus-like scent.

While the smell may not be as sweet as roses, it can help keep pests away.

Many gardeners use marigolds as companion plants because they can help protect crops such as tomatoes from aphids.

They can also help keep pests away from other plants, while still attracting pollinators such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies.

Marigolds are also easy to grow.

Seeds can usually be sown in mid to late spring once the risk of frost has passed and temperatures are consistently warmer.

They can also still be planted during summer, especially if you buy plugs or potted marigolds from a garden centre for instant colour.

To sow seeds, sprinkle them lightly onto damp, peat-free multipurpose compost in pots, leaving space between them to avoid overcrowding.

Marigolds need plenty of sunlight to flower well, making them ideal for south-facing balconies and sunny patios.

Before they are fully established, they may need watering every day.

Once settled, they are fairly low-maintenance and usually only need watering twice a week, or whenever the soil feels dry.

During heatwaves, they should be watered in the morning.

On days when temperatures rise above 30C, they may benefit from a second watering in the evening.

To keep them flowering for longer, remove faded blooms by pinching them off.

This encourages the plant to produce more flowers.

Towards the end of summer and into early autumn, gardeners can leave some dead flower heads to turn to seed.

These seeds can then be collected and planted the following year, or left in place to self-seed naturally.

Marigolds usually flower for around three to four months, but in mild UK conditions they can sometimes bloom from April through to October.

With enough sun, regular watering and deadheading, they can keep balconies and patios looking bright for much of the year.

For more gardening, home and lifestyle updates, follow Pulse Media.