Best Plants for Vertical Gardens: Make Your Walls Greener

Vertical gardens are becoming more and more popular because they provide numerous benefits. They allow even small apartments or offices to incorporate lush living plants where space can be limited. 

They don't only offer flexible setups and a variety of benefits. They also give you the option to grow herbs, flowers, or decorative plants in urban areas.

That's one of the reasons vertical gardens have become a favoured choice for modern homes and commercial spaces alike.

If you're wondering what the best plants for vertical gardens are, you've come to the right place. 

The good news is that you can choose from a wide range of plants. This includes ornamental, edible, and flowering plants.

You'll find all the answers in this article.

Understanding Vertical Gardens

Vertical gardens are a smart solution for those who want to make the most of limited space. 

They are gardening systems where plants grow vertically rather than horizontally. This can include a variety of setups, such as:

1. Hanging planters
2. Stacked pots
3. Trellises
4. Wall-mounted planters

Green walls are special types of vertical gardens. They're built directly onto a wall or stand-alone structure. They include built-in irrigation, fertilsing units, and drainage systems.

Green walls are popular for creating large, decorative green spaces both outdoors and indoors. 

These green spaces offer many more benefits than just aesthetic appeal. They can also improve the air quality, reduce noise, and increase property value. 

But their most important advantage is that they maximise space. If you don't have room for a garden on your roof, then you might be able to install a green wall. 

What Are the Best Plants for Vertical Gardens

If you've decided to install a vertical garden in your home, the next step is to choose your plants. This decision is more important than you think. 

There are many factors to think about, including:

• The amount of sunlight the wall receives (or the need for artificial lighting)
• The support needed for the plants (whether a structure or specialised engineering solutions are required)
• How the climate interacts with your plant choices (for example, in the southern states, seasonal changes will affect the growth of your plants)

Luckily for you, you can find all that information in this article. There are many plants to choose from, all of which can make your vertical garden thrive.

We can divide the best plants for vertical gardens into these three categories:

1. Best ornamental and foliage plants for vertical gardens
2. Best edible plants for vertical gardens 
3. Best flowering plants for vertical gardens

Best Ornamental and Foliage Plants for Vertical Gardens

First, let's take a look at which plants can help make your vertical garden more beautiful. 

Ornamental and foliage plants add texture, colour, and greenery to vertical gardens, making them visually appealing.

Here are some ornamental and foliage plants you can add to your vertical garden:

• Ferns (Boston Fern, Maidenhair Fern, and Hare's Foot Fern)

Ferns can make a beautiful impact in shaded parts of your garden. Varieties like the Boston Fern add a jungle-like lushness. They thrive in low light and are great for humid environments. 

• Succulents (Burro's Tail, String of Pearls, Sedum, and Blue Chalksticks)

Succulents are perfect for sunny locations. They also have lower maintenance requirements. Sedum is a great low-maintenance option, being hardy and colourful without the need for constant care. 

• Philodendrons (Heartleaf Philodendron and Philodendron Xannadu)

These ornamental plants are great for indoor spaces with low to medium light. They also tolerate lower humidity, making them ideal for indoor vertical setups.

• Spider plants (Chlorophytum Comosum)

Spider plants are hardy and air-purifying, ideal for indoor vertical gardens. They add structure and brightness. They're also tough.

• Air plants (Tillandsia)

Air plants don't need substrate. They're great for low-maintenance vertical arrangements.

• Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Known for its colourful foliage, Heuchera adds rich texture to vertical gardens. It thrives in partial shade and well-drained substrate. 

• Lomandra (Lomandra longifolia and similar native and ornamental grasses)

Lomandra is a native Australian grass that adds a structural element. This plant is very drought-resistant.

• Ivies (Variegated Ivy and Algerian Ivy)

Ivies are ideal for cascading effects in vertical gardens. Variegated Ivy plants are favourites because they can adapt and cover a good stretch of the vertical garden.

Best Edible Plants for Vertical Gardens 

You can also add edible plants to your vertical garden. 

Vertical gardens are practical for growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and greens. These types of vertical gardens are ideal for kitchens or outdoor edible walls. 

They include herbs, leafy greens, and edible flowers and greens. 

You can plant the following herbs:

• Basil: Loves sunlight and provides fresh leaves for cooking.
• Mint: Thrives in partial shade and adds fragrance and flavour.
• Thyme: A hardy herb that requires minimal water.
• Parsley: Does well in vertical gardens, especially in shaded areas.
• Rosemary: Ideal for sunny walls and is drought-tolerant.
• Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides): An Australian native leafy green that grows well in a variety of climates.

These are some leafy greens to add:

• Lettuce: Thrives in cooler climates and grows quickly, making it perfect for a vertical setup.
• Spinach: Requires partial shade and consistent moisture.
• Kale: Hardy and nutrient-rich, does well in cooler climates.

You can also plant these edible flowers and greens:

• Nasturtiums: Edible flowers with a peppery taste, which attract pollinators and thrive in vertical gardens.
• Strawberries: Compact and perfect for vertical gardens, but they need full sun exposure.
• Chives: A versatile herb that grows well in small spaces and tolerates partial shade.

Best Flowering Plants for Vertical Gardens

You can also use flowering plants for your vertical garden. 

These plants add a splash of colour. They can also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your vertical garden.

Here are your options:

• Orchids (Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis) and Dendrobium varieties)

Orchids are exotic flowers that thrive in indirect sunlight and humidity. They're known for their stunning, long-lasting blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple.

• Begonias (Rex Begonia and Wax Begonia)

Begonias are excellent for shaded areas. They add colour and texture with their bright blooms and foliage.

• Geraniums

Geraniums are drought-tolerant, colourful flowers. They're ideal for sunny walls. They prefer full sun to partial shade, making them well-suited for outdoor walls with good sunlight.

• Petunias

Petunias are fast-growing, sun-loving, and perfect for adding vibrant colours. They bloom in a wide array of colours, from pastels to deep purples and reds. 

• Fuchsia

Fuchia is known for its hanging flowers. They're great for shaded vertical gardens. They need regular watering and appreciate high humidity, so misting is needed in drier climates.

• Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)

This is an Australian native with unique, colourful blooms that attract pollinators. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil. The Kangaroo Paw is ideal for outdoor vertical gardens in warm, sunny climates.

• Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are edible and beautiful. These flowers are easy to grow and bring brightness to vertical gardens.

• Marigolds

Marigolds are hardy, sun-loving, and great for repelling pests. They're perfect for outdoor vertical gardens.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Plants for a Vertical Garden

Australia has unique climatic and environmental conditions. 

Just like with rooftop garden plants, you have to choose the best plants that will not only survive but thrive in Australia's climate. 

There is no recipe for the perfect plant palette. Each location has different weather patterns, indoor requirements, and microclimates that can form around your property.

Here are some factors to think about when choosing the best plants for a vertical garden:

1. Local climate zone
2. Native plant selection
3. Sun or natural light intensity
4. Watering efficiency
5. Temperature extremes
6. Wind resistance

Australia has diverse climate zones. The weather can be tropical in the north, temperate in the south, arid in the central regions, and Mediterranean along parts of the coast.

If you live in Sydney or Melbourne, these are temperate areas. This means you can choose from a variety of plants, including native shrubs, ferns, and herbs.

It's always a good idea to choose plants that naturally occur in locations/environments similar to your project. 

You should also choose plants that can adapt to growing in similar shallow conditions that a wall provides. These plants are often well-adapted to the local conditions and can be more resistant to local pests and diseases.

Australia's sunlight can be intense, especially in summer. It must be taken into account, especially with winter conditions and lower light levels.

For sunny, exposed walls, choose hardy, sun-tolerant plants like succulents and herbs. For shaded walls, consider native ferns, philodendrons, or bromeliads.

Australia's water restrictions and dry seasons make water conservation important. 

Where possible, opt for drought-tolerant plants. You can also consider a closed-loop system with a reservoir or trough at the base of the wall to recycle water. 

There may be significant temperature swings in your area, from hot summers to cold winters. 

Look for temperature-tolerant plants like Lomandra, succulents, or even Mediterranean herbs like lavender.

Strong winds can be a factor, especially near the coast or in exposed areas. 

That's why you should choose hardy, compact plants that can withstand wind without drying out quickly.

Knowing What to Grow in a Vertical Garden

Vertical gardens offer an innovative and versatile way to bring nature into any space, whether indoors or outdoors. 

Make sure to carefully select plants that will suit your environment. That way, you can create a thriving, visually stunning green wall.

You can choose ornamental and foliage plants that add texture and greenery. Edible options that provide fresh produce are also a good idea. Finally, flowering varieties bring vibrant colours and attract pollinators. 

There's a wide range of plants to suit every vertical garden. You just need to find the right vertical garden specialists. 

Evergreen Infrastructure designs and installs beautiful living walls in Melbourne, bringing nature indoors or out.

From small accent walls to large-scale facades, we tailor green walls to fit your space, budget, and style.

If you want to know more about our green wall services, feel free to contact us. 

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