There’s a particular kind of guilt that comes with a balcony full of plants that all seem to be quietly giving up, the wilted leaves, the ones that never quite bounced back after the nursery. According to Swami Prem Parivartan, better known across India as Peepal Baba, the problem often isn’t a lack of a green thumb at all, it’s simply starting with the wrong plants. In a recently shared Instagram video, the environmentalist, who has spent close to five decades planting trees across the country and founded the Give Me Trees Trust, shared five beginner-friendly picks for balconies and rooftops, plants he considers genuinely hardy enough for someone just starting out. Born in Chandigarh in 1966 to an army doctor and first inspired to plant trees by his English teacher at just eleven years old, Peepal Baba has gone on to plant over 20 million trees across 202 districts in 18 states, and his balcony advice carries the same practical, no-fuss approach that’s defined his decades of work with greenery. Here’s what made to his list.
Curry leaves
Topping Peepal Baba’s list is the curry leaf plant, a choice that doubles as both decor and a genuinely useful kitchen staple. Beyond the fragrance and flavour it lends to Indian cooking, a well-established curry leaf plant becomes a dependable, ongoing source of fresh leaves rather than something you buy in small bunches at the market. It thrives with six to eight hours of direct sunlight and a reasonably sized container, and once it settles in, it tends to reward consistent, basic care with steady, usable growth, making it a genuinely practical first plant for anyone starting a balcony garden from scratch.
Hibiscus
Next on the list is hibiscus, prized for its bright, showy blooms that add a real splash of colour to an otherwise green or bare balcony. It’s a familiar face in Indian homes already, which Peepal Baba points to as part of why it’s such an accessible starting point for new gardeners, there’s rarely a learning curve around simply recognising and caring for it. Given full sun and regular watering, hibiscus tends to flower generously across its growing season, turning a plain corner of a balcony or rooftop into something genuinely lively without demanding much specialised knowledge in return.Here’s the video:
Areca palm
Third on Peepal Baba’s list is the areca palm, chosen specifically for the instant tropical feel its tall, feathery fronds bring to a space. For gardeners who want to add real greenery and a sense of scale without taking on an especially complicated plant, it’s a solid middle-ground option, visually striking but not particularly fussy once it’s established in a large enough container with bright, indirect light. Its lush, arching foliage tends to make even a small, plain balcony feel noticeably more vibrant and full.
Snake plant
The fourth pick is the snake plant, and Peepal Baba shares a specific styling tip alongside it: plant them in clusters rather than scattering single pots around. Their upright, sword-like leaves take up very little floor space, making them particularly well suited to balconies where room is at a premium, and grouping several together creates a fuller, more deliberate green display than the same plants would offer standing alone. It’s also one of the more famously forgiving plants available, tolerating inconsistent watering and lower light far better than most.
Money plant
Rounding out the list is the money plant, which Peepal Baba notes comes in several varieties worth exploring, including regular pothos, Assam varieties, and golden pothos. With such a range of leaf shapes, colours, and patterns on offer, it gives gardeners genuine room to choose based on personal taste, whether that’s solid green foliage or something with more distinctive variegation. It’s also widely considered one of the easier plants to keep alive, tolerating both soil and water-based growing setups with minimal fuss.
