Cascading plants have a trailing or cascading growth habit, meaning they grow downwards or spread outwards from the point of attachment. This growth habit makes them ideal for planting in retaining walls where they can hang over the edge or drape down the sides of the wall. This adds texture, color, and movement to your retaining wall and can help to soften the hard edges of the wall or hide it completely.
With the right plant selection you can create the tropical style garden of your dreams, whether that be a lush jungle look, the minimalism of a luxury tropical resort or the manicured perfection of a formal garden. In this article we’ll help you find the right plants to achieve the look you want with plants that are happy in your climate.
Why do you need retaining walls?
Retaining walls are a sloping-site gardener’s best friend! They hold back soil, water, and other materials, saving the day and creating level areas, preventing soil erosion, and adding some serious style to outdoor spaces. Whether you prefer wood, stone, brick, concrete, or metal, retaining walls can be customized to fit your taste and purpose.
When choosing a retaining wall material, consider durability, aesthetics, and maintenance. Natural stone or timber is an attractive option that adds a natural, rustic look to your garden. If you have a jungle style garden you can’t go past a stone wall. If you have a more modern outdoor space or formal garden, brick and concrete blocks are popular choices for retaining walls. The best thing about these is that they can be painted or stained to match the style of your home.
Selecting the right plants for your retaining wall
When planting a retaining wall garden, it’s important to choose plants that can handle the conditions specific to walls – limited soil depth, limited water and nutrients, and exposure to the elements. That’s some of the best types of plants for retaining walls are drought-tolerant plants.
Of course for a tropical look you’ll be on the lookout for evergreen foliage plants and flowers in hot tropical shades of yellow, orange, pink, and red. Cold climate gardeners will find that fast growing plants that can be grown as annuals are an excellent option for their tropical-style garden.
Characteristics of cascading plants for retaining wall gardens
- Trailing Growth Habit – Cascading plants trail downwards and outwards. This makes them perfect for planting in retaining walls where they can hang over the edge or drape down the sides like a waterfall of green. Most of the best plants are ground covers and climbers.
- Foliage and Flower Color – When selecting cascading plants for your retaining wall, consider the foliage and flower color. Make sure they complement each other and add interest to your wall. Think about the foliage color and texture in relation to the wall material and surrounding landscape as well.
- Low Maintenance – A retaining wall garden is all about the beauty, so who wants to spend all their time pruning and training plants? Choose low maintenance cascading plants to save time and ensure your garden stays healthy and gorgeous without all the fuss.
Characteristics of retaining walls that are important for plant selection
- Wall height – Try to match the spread of the plant with the height of the wall. A plant with a 10 ft (3m) spread will be perfect for a 3ft (1m) wall. If you only want to partially cover the wall, a smaller spread is fine. A plant with very long growth on a low retaining wall will need regular pruning to stop it from taking over.
- Wall structure – Some walls will have gaps in them that are perfect for planting small plants such as ferns (full shade) or succulents (full sun). There’s always a risk unwanted plants will pop out of the gaps so it’s best to get ahead and place plants that you want there.
- Thermal Mass – stone, brick and concrete retaining walls can absorb and hold heat, especially if they get full sun. In hot climates you’ll need to make sure that your plants can handle the heat, and in cold climates you can use this to your advantage and experiment with growing cold-sensitive plants close to the wall. The Monstera deliciosa plants in the picture below are drying out against the hot wall and don’t have much soil to retain moisture.
Tropical-look Cascading Plants for Your Retaining Wall Garden
Tropical and Subtropical Climates
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a popular and vibrant climbing plant native to tropical and subtropical regions. You’ll cherish its profusion of colorful bracts, which surround small, inconspicuous flowers. Bougainvillea blooms in a range of hues, including shades of pink, red, orange, purple, and white. Its vigorous growth habit and ability to cascade make it ideal for a large wall in a sunny location. Bougainvillea thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 and requires full sun to bloom prolifically.
Firecracker plant
With its trailing and cascading growth habit, Russelia equisetiformis is an ideal choice for cascading over garden walls. Its long, arching stems gracefully spill over the edges, creating a waterfall of foliage and vibrant flowers. Russelia equisetiformis thrives in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil and is relatively drought-tolerant once established. This plant is typically hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 but you can grow it as an annual in colder regions.
Brazilian Jasmine
As a climbing vine, you can train Mandevilla sanderi to cascade over retaining walls, displaying its stunning flowers and creating an eye-catching display. Mandevilla thrives in warm, tropical climates and is typically grown as an annual in cooler regions. While Mandevilla is often associated with warmer regions, some varieties have been bred to tolerate cooler temperatures and you can grow them as perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or as an annual in colder regions.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp) is an annual plant that is popular for its vibrant and edible flowers. The flowers come in an array of warm colors, including shades of orange, red, and yellow. Nasturtium has round, shield-shaped leaves and trailing stems that can elegantly cascade over a low wall, creating a colorful and cascading display. It is a versatile plant that can tolerate various growing conditions and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2-11. Spread is 60cm/ 2 feet.
Yellow Trumpet
Allamanda cathartica, commonly known as Allamanda or the Golden Trumpet Vine, is a tropical vine with glossy, dark green leaves and large, showy yellow flowers. The tumpet-shaped flowers bloom profusely from the warmest months to early fall. You can train Allamanda to cascade over a retaining wall, providing a splash of color. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10-11, enjoying full sun and warm temperatures.
Fruit Salad Plant
Monstera deliciosa is a striking tropical plant with large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves that develop distinct, irregular holes as they mature. The leaves are dark green and deeply lobed, creating an eye-catching appearance. Its vining nature makes it well-suited for cascading over a retaining wall, as the aerial roots can cling to surfaces, providing stability and support. Best in USDA zones 10-11 but will grow in a sheltered Zone 9 position.
Persian Shield
Strobilanthes dyerianus is a stunning tropical plant known for its vibrant foliage. Its large leaves are lance-shaped and have a shimmering metallic iridescence, displaying a mix of purple, silver, and green hues. The foliage creates a striking contrast when grown against a retaining wall. Persian Shield is typically grown as an annual or tropical perennial and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum, commonly known as Golden pothos or Devil’s Ivy, is a versatile and easy-to-grow trailing plant. It features heart-shaped leaves with variegated patterns of green and yellow. Golden pothos is able to tolerate different light levels and adapt to various environmental conditions. The cascading vines on this vigorous grower make it an excellent choice for draping over a retaining wall.
Sweet Potato Vine
Ipomoea batatas is a fast-growing trailing plant that is highly valued for its attractive foliage. It features heart-shaped or palmate leaves that come in various shades of green, purple, or bronze, adding vibrant colors to any garden or retaining wall. It can tolerate both sun and partial shade and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, where it can enjoy the warmth and sun of tropical or subtropical climates.
Warm Temperate Climates
Star Jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides is a woody, evergreen vine renowned for its glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant, star-shaped white flowers. You can train its long, flexible stems to spill over the edges of walls, creating a cascading effect and softening the appearance of hard surfaces. The glossy leaves and fragrant flowers provide visual interest and a pleasant aroma. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. It is typically hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Lantana
Lantana camara, or simply Lantana, is a versatile plant that is often grown as a perennial or annual. It features clusters of tiny flowers that come in various colors, including shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow. Lantana blooms continuously throughout the warm months and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Its trailing nature makes it suitable for cascading over retaining walls. Lantana thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 and prefers full sun.
Inch Plant
Tradescantia zebrina’s trailing nature makes it ideal for cascading over retaining walls, as the stems can gracefully drape and spill over the edges. Also know as Wandering Jew, this fast-growing plant that can quickly fill in spaces and provide a lush, cascading effect. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. It can tolerate some shade, but it tends to exhibit the best foliage coloration when exposed to brighter light. Best in USDA zones 9-11.
Cool Temperate Climates
Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia, is a low-growing perennial plant that is also commonly referred to as Moneywort or Golden Creeping Jenny. This plant is a favorite for for its bright, chartreuse-yellow leaves that form dense mats of foliage, creating a beautiful cascading effect. It prefers moist soil and can even tolerate shallow water, making it an excellent choice for water gardens, bog areas, or along the edges a water feature. It is hardy in USDA zones 3-9.
Ice plant
Delosperma cooperi is a ground cover plant and is one of the best cascading plants for low retaining walls. Thanks to their ability to produce masses of flowers, they form dense mats that spill over and create a carpet-like effect. They are well-adapted to arid and drought-prone environments, making them suitable for rock gardens, coastal landscapes, and dry slopes. Ice Plants thrive in USDA hardiness zones 6-10, depending on the specific species and cultivar.
Dwarf Loropetalum
Unlike its taller cousins, this ornamental plant has a low spreading growth habit, making it suitable as a groundcover at the front of a border, massed along a slope, or as a container specimen. Deep purple foliage holds its color well throughout the season, contrasting with showy magenta flowers in spring. Best in USDA zones 7-9 in full sun or part shade. It needs afternoon shade in warmer climates and 4 hours of sun for optimum color.
Nemesia
Nemesia is a charming annual or perennial plant that produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers in a wide range of colors, including shades of pink, purple, yellow, and white. The flowers have a tubular shape and often feature contrasting markings or patterns, adding visual interest to the plant. Nemesia has a compact growth habit but will cascade over a retaining wall, or the edge of a hanging basket or window boxes. It thrives in cooler climates and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2-10.
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is a compact and trailing plant that is closely related to petunias. It is characterized by its profusion of small, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a wide range of vibrant colors, including shades of pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, and white. It is a sun-loving plant and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Calibrachoa is often treated as an annual plant, but in frost-free regions, it can behave as a perennial. Available in USDA zones 7-11.
Cousin It
Casaurina glauca ‘Cousin It’ is an Australian native ground cover with a gorgeous cascading habit. The branches can extend several feet in length and the foliage forms a dense curtain-like effect. This unique growth habit makes it a perfect choice for retaining walls, rockeries, or as a ground cover on steep slopes. Super tough, it can tolerate both heat and cold so is ideal for a challenging site. This drought-tolerant plant is suitable for arid and semi-arid regions and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Creating your retaining wall garden
Creating a retaining wall garden can add interest, texture, and color to any landscape design. With the right plants, you can create a lush, tropical oasis that looks amazing year-round. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your retaining wall garden:
Before you start building, assess the area where you want to build your retaining wall. Make sure it gets enough sunlight, has protection from strong winds, and has proper drainage. Consider the height and length of the wall, as well as the type of soil you have.
Take the time to plan your design. Consider the height of the wall, the location, and the amount of sun exposure. Make a rough sketch of the area and experiment with different plant combinations. Don’t be afraid to play with color and texture to create a tropical look that’s all your own.
Fill your garden with cascading plants
Select a high-quality, well-draining soil for your retaining wall garden. You can use a mix of soil, compost, and organic matter, or add these to existing soil to improve it. Consider using a soil-less mix or raised bed if your retaining wall is in a shady or wet area.
When planting, make sure to space the plants out evenly along the retaining wall. You can use a variety of plants in different heights and widths to create a layered look. Some trailing plants look best planted at the top of the wall so that they can spill over it, where as climbers can be planted at the top or the base, as they can also climb the wall. If you have a rock wall you can even plant small plants in the gaps between the rocks.
Make sure to water the plants thoroughly after planting and then make sure your plants have regular watering for the first few months. Retaining walls can be challenging to water, so make sure to check and water your plants more regularly than you would a regular garden bed. A drip irrigation system or soaker hose is ideal for retaining wall gardens, as it ensures that water reaches the roots of the plants without making a mess.
Retaining wall gardens are a fantastic way to add interest, texture, and color to any landscape. With the right plants and a little bit of care, you can create a lush, tropical oasis that’s the envy of your neighborhood. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, the tips and suggestions in this article will help you create the retaining wall garden of your dreams. Happy gardening!
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