Top-10 ornamental plants for vertical garden

In a vertical garden, we can grow a wide range of plants; some are edible, some strictly for beautifying purposes, while some are for both. Vertical gardens are a green solution to urban gardening problems within a limited space. Ornamental plants not only add to the aesthetic sense of the place but also help in making the space eco-friendly.

In this write up we will discuss the various ornamental plants including both foliage and flowering plants.

NOTE: Check out our portable vertical gardens – these are easy to install and maintain – and you can buy them online and get them home delivered anywhere in India !

Foliage:

• Sword Fern: They are most common vertical garden plants used, nowadays. Often grown in hanging baskets on green walls.
• Botanical name: Nephrolepis exaltata
• Light and temperature: light to heavy shade; most ferns like an average temperature of 65-75 degrees F
• Soil: pH should be around 7-8
• Water: regular watering and never let the soil get completely dry.
• Height: up to 4-5 feet

• Golden Pothos or Money plant: It is a vining plant that is super easy to care for. They easily grow and spread over a wide length of the wall. Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum
• Light and temperature: money plant prefers indirect light and will tolerate low light; thrives better in humid areas such as bathroom walls
• Soil: grows best in fertile loamy soil of pH range 6.0-7.5;
• Water: needs watering every 7 to 10 days when the top 2 inches of soil is dry
• Height: grows up to a length of 20 feet

• English ivy: Ivy is a hardy, evergreen vine. It attaches itself by aerial rootlets to the walls and other surfaces. Grown primarily for its lush foliage, which forms a cool green cover on walls or whichever vertical surface they’re grown on.
• Botanical name: Hedera helix
• Light and temperature: full to partial sun; 50-70 degrees F
• Soil: well-drained loamy soil, either acidic, neutral or alkaline in nature
• Water: average watering is required
• Height: 20-90 feet

• Giant lilyturf: They have dense spreading strap-like leaves that are glossy and dark green. Though it is grown for its dense green foliage, it does bloom in summer and its flowers are quite showy.
• Botanical name: Liriope gigantea
• Light and temperature: full-sun to full-shade; 60-70 degrees F
• Soil: well-drained loamy or clayey soil with pH ranging from neutral to acidic
• Water: needs regular watering throughout the growing season.
• Height: up to 4 feet tall.

• Philodendron: It is easy to take care of, because if you watch the signals, the plant will tell you exactly what it needs. They are comfortable both as indoor and outdoor plants.
• Botanical name: Philodendron scandens
• Light and temperature: bright indirect sunlight; 75-85 degrees F
• Soil: a soil of pH 6.0-6.5 is ideal for philodendron
• Water: while watering philodendron plants, allow the top inch of the soil to dry out between watering.
• Height: grows up to a length of 10-20 feet

Flowers:

• Geranium varieties: They bloom in burst of deep reds, scarlet, pinks, white, purple etc. with flowers lasting the entire gardening season.
• Botanical name: Geranium dissectum
• Light and temperature: bright to medium light is needed along with 60-70 degrees F.
• Soil: well-drained potting soil of pH range 6.0-7.5
• Water: known to be drought tolerant, occasional watering can be carried out
• Height: grows up to 12 inches tall
• Flower colours: pink, blue, orange, white, red.

• Wedding vines: Wedding vine derives its name from the decoration purpose it serves at weddings. It’s grown vertically widely for its pure white, waxy, intensely fragrant flowers.
• Botanical name: Stephanotis floribunda
• Light and temperature: 70-90 degrees F
• Soil: high content of loam and peat moss.
• Water: water until the soil mixture is drenched; the mixture should drain freely
• Height: grows up to 6 feet or more
• Flower colours: pure white

8) Peace lily: Peace lily is used in a vertical garden owing to its quickly growing ability. Easy to grow as they are tolerant to lower light and low humidity.

• Botanical name: Spathiphyllum wallisii
• Light and temperature: bright to medium light; 65-80 degrees F temperature
• Water: water at least once a week and spritz the leaves with distilled water throughout the summer growing season.
• Height:up to 2 feet (60 cm)
• Flowers: white

9) Star jasmine: Evergreen plant and can be easily trained on trellis.

• Botanical name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
• Light and temperature: full to partial sun
• Water: average watering is needed.
• Height:3-9 metres
• Flowers: white

10) English lavender: Evergreen garden herb thrives in summer heat and dry weather. They are also grown for its medicinal and culinary uses.

• Botanical name:Lavandula
• Light and temperature: full sun; 70-75 degrees F
• Soil: neutral to alkaline soil
• Water: regular watering is not required
• Height:1-2 metres
• Flowers: lavender in colour

NOTE: GreenMyLife offers landscaping services in Bangalore – we can build beautiful vertical gardens for residential and commercial spaces ! Get in touch.