There’s a common assumption in gardening that morning-only sun is somehow a consolation prize, a lesser version of a “proper” sunny balcony that gets full light all day. In reality, that gentle few hours of soft, early sunlight before the harshness of afternoon sets in is exactly what a whole category of genuinely striking, exotic plants actually prefers. Many of the world’s most visually dramatic tropical plants evolved growing under a forest canopy, receiving filtered, indirect light rather than scorching midday sun, which makes an east-facing balcony far more plant-friendly than most people realise. Here are five exotic plants which are absolutely worth trying.