Living walls also known as vertical gardens have become increasingly popular for decorating both home and office spaces. A living wall is essentially a vertical structure that allows plants to grow on it. The plants are held in place by structural panels, pouches, pots, or trailing down from suspended containers. Living walls bring nature indoors and provide many benefits such as improving air quality, reducing noise, and boosting moods.
When creating a living wall, choosing the right plants is critical for success. The plants need to be able to thrive in a vertical environment as well as the specific indoor conditions of that space. Here is a complete guide to selecting the best plants for living walls in homes and offices.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Plants
There are several important factors to evaluate when selecting plants for a living wall installation
Light – Determine the light exposure and intensity in the location, Is it bright or low light? Direct or indirect sun? This will dictate suitable plants
Water – Consider how the plants will be irrigated. Drip irrigation or hand watering? The frequency and delivery method affects moisture needs.
Air Circulation – Flowing air keeps leaves healthy. Space plants to allow air movement between them.
Temperature – Most homes and offices have temperatures between 60-80°F. Choose plants suited to that range.
Humidity – Many tropical plants require consistent humidity. Supplement humidity if needed.
Maintenance – Some plants need more pruning and training than others. Consider maintenance time required.
Layout – Plan where larger and trailing plants will go. Mix heights, shapes, and spreads for optimal design.
10 Best Plants for Living Walls
Here are 10 of the top plant choices for living walls and their key attributes:
1. Spider Plant
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Thrives in bright or low indirect light.
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Requires moderately moist soil but tolerates some dryness.
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Trailing stems with offshoots create a cascading effect.
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Natural air purifier and easy to grow.
2. Pothos
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Tolerates a wide range of light, from full sun to deep shade.
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Handles dry conditions but grows faster with more moisture.
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Trails up to 3-4 feet long. Beautiful cascading leaves.
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Natural climber that helps cover bare areas.
3. Philodendrons
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Prefer bright indirect light but do well in low light too.
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Allow soil to dry out some between waterings.
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Trailing and vining varieties add drapes of greenery.
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Heart-shaped leaves and easy care make them popular.
4. Peperomia
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Do well in medium to low light. Avoid direct sun.
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Require consistently moist soil.
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Diverse foliage colors and textures.
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Slow growing, compact size good for small spaces.
5. Ferns
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Enjoy bright indirect light to partial shade.
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Consistently moist soil is important, mist often.
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Fluffy soft texture and natural appeal.
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Boston fern is a cascading variety that trails nicely.
6. Ivy
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Tolerates low to bright indirect light.
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Grows quickly and trails heavily.
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Requires average watering and humidity.
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Creates lush cascades and fills in densely.
7. Succulents
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Require very bright light, even some direct sun.
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Need excellent drainage and infrequent watering.
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Interesting shapes and textures.
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Best for accent plants unless conditions are ideal.
8. Bromeliads
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Prefer bright indirect light. A little sun okay.
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Tolerate dry air and irregular watering well.
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Colorful bracts last for months.
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Work well inserted between other plants.
9. Orchids
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Do best in moderate to bright indirect light.
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Allow pots to dry out some between waterings.
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Beautiful blooms last for months.
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Epithytic orchids adapted to vertical growth.
10. Mosses
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Require very moist conditions and indirect light.
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Add lush, velvety green texture and trailing effects.
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Help conceal mechanics and fill in background.
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Softens hardscape and adds natural appeal.
Vertical Gardening Tips
Follow these tips to help your vertical garden thrive:
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Stagger plant placement with taller plants at top and cascading ones lower.
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Allow enough space between plants for leaves to spread out.
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Use coir, moss, or felt to line pockets and help retain moisture.
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Install drip irrigation on a timer to ensure regular watering.
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Provide good drainage holes so plants don’t get overly wet.
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Mist frequently to increase humidity around plants.
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Use slow release fertilizer to feed plants 2-3 times per year.
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Prune back wayward stems and train vines to encourage fullness.
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Rotate plants to equalize light exposure and promote even growth.
Bring Your Wall to Life
Creating a living wall introduces beautiful greenery into any space while purifying the air and providing a connection to nature. Use this guide to pick the perfect plants for your unique indoor conditions and design. With the right plant selection and care, your living wall will thrive for years to come. The possibilities are endless when you choose plants suited to vertical gardening and your environment.
Low Light Tropical Plants
For walls across from windows or there is only artificial light available. Halogen floods provide the best artificial light but are big users of power, consider high intensity LED spots or fluorescent flood lights. Use a light meter to insure a minimum 250 foot candles falls on all the plants. The more you can provide the more healthy the plants will be.
Plants we have found to work best for living walls
Nearly any plant can grow in a vertical garden depending on the conditions. The following is a list of plants that we have used and had success in vertical gardens.
As all green thumbs know that plants can only thrive in their optimal environment. For example, most vegetables and herbs require full-sun and hot summers to thrive and produce food. Succulents like only a little water and grow best with part sun. Ferns do best in shady areas, constantly moist roots, and cool nights.
Indoor plants commonly known as ‘House Plants’ are best suited for human habitats. Most of which are native to the shady floors of tropical rain-forests. Ideally, this is also the same 70 degree environment where humans thrive. So it’s only natural that we would want to fill our lives with plants.
For indoor gardens, the Philodendron family is the most hardy. There are many colors of foliage with bold stems and roots. They can drape down or reach upward. And most can be transplanted from cuttings which means you can literally spread your garden around.
For walls across from windows or if there is only artificial light available we recommend using high intensity LED spots or fluorescent flood lights. Check Lighting Guide in our Guides section for more information.
10 Best Plants for Living Wall Vertical Garden Plants
FAQ
What is the best plant for a wall?
The best climbers for a garden wall or fence
Ivy grows better in the shade, but it’s all-important autumn flowers bloom once it gets its ‘head’ into the sun. If you can erect a trellis, try Common Jasmine or a passionflower. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is self-clinging and grows best against a sunny wall.
How much does a living plant wall cost?
In a nutshell, typical cost of a Living Plant Wall ranges from $110 to $175 per square foot. As with any custom item there is a huge range of variables that affect the price and it is impossible to provide an exact cost without learning more about your project.
What type of plants grow on walls?
Climbers: These make the most of vertical space. Varieties like Clematis, Wisteria, or Climbing Roses can beautify the wall with their vibrant flowers.
How to make a plant living wall?
Step 1: Locate the area of the living wall and then bolt the frame on the wall. Step 2: Take the PVC/PP Frame and wrap one side of it using felts. There are two layers of felt placed on one side of the board Staple of the edges of the felt cloth to the PP board. Step 3: Fix the board on the wall using metal clamps.