Imagine decorating your building wall with gorgeous plants that need minimal care and bloom profusely. Before selecting plants for your rock walls remember that plants on a wall have minimal growing medium and limited water.
• Things To Consider Before Selecting Plants for Rock Walls
Here are a few basic things you must take into consideration when planting for rock walls:
1. Wall Material
Walls made up of limestone or mortar are alkaline, meaning acid-loving plants such as Hydrangea and Rhododendrons won't thrive on it. So, if you're looking for plants to grow in rock walls, make sure to pick and choose after studying the rock material.
2. Wall Direction
North-facing walls are ideal for Ferns while south-facing walls would suit sun-loving plants the most, such as Bougainvillea and Pea vines. So, growing plants on walls would also mean that you will have to and must check according to their sunlight requirements.
3. Wall Purpose
Do not plant on walls that are part of a structure, i.e., a residence or house. Instead, opt for boundary walls opt and smaller plants. A dry stone wall is the best for planting as the gap between stones serves as pockets and open construction allows for growing plants with thick stems.
• Plants That Grow on Walls: What You Can Choose From
When picking plants, go for the ones that naturally thrive on cliff faces, succulents, plants with a trailing habitat and the ones that cascade down the rock faces or slopes. You cannot change your plants that grow in stone walls with every changing season, so make sure to choose wisely!
Thus, it is advisable that you select evergreen plants and flowers for rock walls that have a long flowering period and attractive foliage. Avoid choosing plants with a thick taproot, instead, go for plants with single stems as they are easy to snap.
1. Climbing Hydrangea
The sturdy plant blooms with large and aromatic clusters of white flowers along with deep green heart-shaped foliage. The plant grows gradually and loves to climb and cling. It reaches up to 30 to 80 feet high and needs a substantial amount of support.
Also Read: Essential guide to Hydrangeas
2. Creeping Thyme
Also known as Mother of Thyme, the plant proliferates among rocks, and can “creep” around its surroundings, creating a visually stunning carpet of blooms. Creeping Thyme is a perennial hardy and needs minimal care.
3. English Ivy
Ivy comes with an enchanting, timeless charm and looks classic when grown on walls. The best part about growing Ivy is that they keep walls dry. Ivy can scale up to 20 feet or higher!
4. Japanese Forest Grass
This is an ornamental plant that is slow-growing and requires extra care. Its semi-green color helps in adding a sense of softness to rock walls. This graceful plant is non-invasive and reaches up to 24 inches.
5. Moss Phlox
Moss Phlox paints the rock walls in a gorgeous pink, purple, and white colors. Its showy ground-hugging mass spreads and cascades beautifully, with needle-like foliage and lovely bright summer flowers.
6. Moss
Moss gives the rock wall natural charm and sense of age. Its earthy look helps to paint a rock wall landscape green with complete ease.
Also Read: 9 Different Varieties of Moss to Add to a Garden
7. Rock Cress
This cascading herbaceous perennial grows with edible flowers and foliage. An ideal plant for the novice gardener, Rock Cress requires minimal care and regular soil. The sweet purple blooms of this lovely plant last for many weeks.
8. Succulents
Succulents are not fussy about soil and water. They are sturdy plants that grow in a large number of unique varieties. When added to a rock wall, they are sure to add a pop of life to the otherwise dead wall.
Buy Succulents
9. Wisteria
Wisteria vines grow with a sweet fragrance and attractive violet flowers. Highly invasive, they can be planted as a tree or vine as they can both climb and creep. Its draping flowers are a sight to behold!
10. Yellow Alyssum
Also known as Basket of Gold, Yellow Alyssum looks lovely against a rock wall. This cascading plant with its bright yellow blooms grows out instead of up, and transform the rock walls into a stunning yellow painting.
• Wall Creeper Plants: How Can You Help Them Grow Well?
Planting spaces in a wall are tiny, and you cannot transplant well-established plants into them. This is because the well-established plants will not be able to get roots into the crevices of the wall. Thus, starting with seeds is the best idea. When you grow with seeds, the plant roots will establish themselves firmly.
You can do this by making tiny seed bombs made up of seeds and compost that could be popped into the wall.
You can also try thriving establishing plants in a container near the wall and wish that they self-seed and spread into the wall.
