Plants for living walls
Plants for a living wall are chosen by light first. Sun-facing outdoor walls need tough plants such as purple heart and dwarf ixora; shaded and indoor walls suit foliage such as syngonium, philodendron and ferns. We set the final list after seeing the light on your wall.
Sources checked
Full sun
For outdoor walls with several hours of direct sun.
Ixora (Dwarf)
Ixora chinensis (dwarf cultivars)
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
A compact border ixora, also used on outdoor green walls; keep soil moist in summer.
Wedelia (Creeping Daisy)
Sphagneticola trilobata
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Fast yellow-flowered ground cover for slopes and outdoor green walls; trim edges regularly.
Alternanthera (Joy Weed)
Alternanthera ficoidea
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Red/green carpet plant for borders and patterns; clip often to keep it tight.
Purple Heart (Setcreasea)
Tradescantia pallida
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Needs little water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Purple trailing ground cover; full sun gives the deepest colour.
Cuphea (Mexican Heather)
Cuphea hyssopifolia
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Tiny purple flowers on a low mound; good for borders and outdoor green walls.
Part sun
For outdoor walls with morning sun or broken shade.
Curtain Creeper
Tarlmounia elliptica
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Hangs down in a dense green curtain from balconies; water regularly and trim the length.
Creeping Fig (Ficus Pumila)
Ficus pumila
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Clings to walls on its own; keep moist and trim to keep the small juvenile leaves.
Rhoeo (Moses in the Cradle)
Tradescantia spathacea
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Needs little water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Purple-backed leaves for borders and outdoor green walls; very hardy.
Tradescantia Zebrina (Wandering Dude)
Tradescantia zebrina
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Silvery-striped trailing plant for baskets and green walls; pinch to keep full.
Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
- Where
- Outdoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Slow, neat grassy clumps for edging and shaded green walls.
Chlorophytum (Green / Bichetii)
Chlorophytum laxum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Part sun
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Grassy border plant for shade and indoor/outdoor green walls.
Bright shade
For indoor walls near good light, and shaded courtyards and balconies.
Money Plant (Golden Pothos)
Epipremnum aureum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings; it also grows in a jar of water if the water is changed weekly.
Money Plant (Marble Queen)
Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Keep in bright indirect light so the white marbling stays strong; in low light it turns greener and slower.
Money Plant (Neon)
Epipremnum aureum 'Neon'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Bright indirect light keeps the lime-green colour vivid; avoid harsh afternoon sun which scorches the leaves.
Silver Satin Pothos
Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Water when leaves begin to curl slightly; it prefers slightly drier soil than golden money plant.
Philodendron (Heart Leaf)
Philodendron hederaceum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Trim long vines to keep it bushy; tolerates lower light but grows faster near a bright window.
Philodendron Xanadu
Thaumatophyllum xanadu
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Compact and self-heading; good for shaded corners and indoor green walls, water when the topsoil dries.
Syngonium (Arrowhead, Green)
Syngonium podophyllum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Pinch climbing shoots to keep it compact; one of the easiest plants for indoor green walls.
Syngonium (Pink)
Syngonium podophyllum 'Neon Robusta'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Pink leaves need more light than the green type; avoid direct sun and keep soil evenly moist.
Aglaonema (Red / Lady Valentine)
Aglaonema 'Lady Valentine'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Red and pink aglaonemas need brighter indirect light than green ones to hold their colour.
Dracaena Lemon Lime
Dracaena fragrans 'Lemon Lime'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Bright indirect light keeps the lime stripes vivid; avoid waterlogging.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Hardy and fast; pot up the baby plantlets on runners to make new plants.
Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
Fittonia albivenis
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Likes steady moisture
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Wilts dramatically when dry but revives quickly; good in terrariums and green walls.
Peperomia (Baby Rubber Plant)
Peperomia obtusifolia
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Needs little water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Thick leaves store water, so let the soil dry between waterings.
English Ivy
Hedera helix
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Prefers cooler spots; in Nashik summer keep it in shade and mist in dry heat.
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis'
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Likes steady moisture
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Keep the soil moist and humidity high; ideal for shaded balconies and hanging baskets.
Bird's Nest Fern
Asplenium nidus
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Water around the soil, not into the centre cup; likes humidity and shade.
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum raddianum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Likes steady moisture
- Pets
- Unknown: keep away from pets
Never let it dry out; keep in a humid, bright but sunless spot.
Bromeliad (Guzmania)
Guzmania lingulata
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Keep a little water in the central cup and change it weekly; the bloom lasts for months.
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus radicans
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Bright shade
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
A trailing plant for hanging baskets; bright indirect light brings the red tubular flowers.
Low light
For dimmer indoor walls.
Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen, Silver/Green)
Aglaonema commutatum
- Where
- Indoor walls
- Light
- Low light
- Water
- Average water
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
One of the best plants for low-light rooms; let the top soil dry before watering.
See what your wall would cost
Size it online for a first figure, then we measure on site and send a written quote.
