Creating Vertical Garden Plant Combinations
Creating vertical garden plant combinations involves careful considerations, factoring in elements such as plant health, aesthetic appeal, and space utilization. With correct plant combinations, vertical gardens can effortlessly transform any ordinary space into an enticing green oasis. This article delves into various vertical garden plant combinations that you can consider for your urban living.
I. Shade-Based Plant Combinations
In designing a vertical garden, consider the different levels of sunlight exposure the plants will receive. Pair shade-loving plants together, and place them in dim areas. One beautiful shade-based combination consists of magic wand fern, English Ivy, lady fern, and nephrolepis exaltata.
Magic wand fern thrives in bright but indirect sunlight, though it can tolerate low-light conditions. Pair it with English Ivy, which is known to withstand low light condition and has vining qualities offering textural contrast to the fern. Complement these with lady fern, a plant with delicate, soft green fronds that prefer cool shaded spots. Finally, nephrolepis exaltata, also known as Boston Fern, can provide the final touch, given their preference for smart sunlight exposure and high humidity.
II. Sun-Loving Plant Combinations
For areas with ample sunlight, consider combining senecio serpens, creeping rosemary, moneywort, and sedum. Senecio serpens, also known as blue chalksticks, have intriguing blue-green foliage whose color intensifies with more light. Plant them with creeping rosemary for an alluring scent and beautiful blooming characteristics. Moneywort, also known as creeping Jenny, offers brilliant yellow to green foliage and enjoys full sun. Finally, sedum, with its succulent qualities, offers drought resistance and adds a fantastic textural difference.
III. Edible Plant Combinations
Transform your vertical gardens into bountiful food sources by combining edible plants. A rewarding combination might include strawberries, American cress, nasturtium, and parsley. Strawberries not only give delicious fruits but also have beautiful white flowers and healthy green foliage. American cress and nasturtium are edible salad herbs producing beautiful white and orange flowers respectively. Parsley, with its rich, green curly leaves, provides a lovely backdrop and lasts more than a season.
IV. Combination for Year-Round Interest
For vertical gardens that provide interest throughout the seasons, an excellent combination would include polypodium vulgare, pachysandra terminalis, monarda ‘Cambridge Scarlet’, and erica darlenensis. Polypodium vulgare, or common polypody, boasts evergreen, finely divided fern fronds ideal for an attractive winter showcase. Plant it along pachysandra terminalis, which shows off bright-green leaves all year round.
Monarda ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ brings a punch of color with its crimson flowers during the summer and autumn months. Erica darlenensis, a winter-flowering heather, completes the quartet with her beautiful and spiky lilac blooms.
V. Indoor Vertical Garden Plant Combos
Indoor vertical gardens often revolve around low-maintenance plants that adapt to varying room conditions. A popular indoor combination is the neon pothos, snake plant, peace lily, and silver falls dichondra. Neon pothos is known for its vibrant, cascading vines and is perfect for bringing life to dull indoor spaces.
A snake plant is relatively drought-tolerant, can thrive under varying light conditions, and is beneficial for purifying indoor air. On the other hand, peace lily brings elegance with its distinct white flowers and glossy foliage. Silver falls dichondra, with its trailing silver-colored leaves, creates a dramatic contrast with the other plants and adds a cascading element to this vertical planting combination.
In conclusion, these plant combinations are perfect for green enthusiasts wishing to explore vertical gardening. It is essential to consider the growing conditions, the specific needs of each plant, and evaluate plant aesthetics to create a stunning vertical garden. Also, always be ready to experiment with various combinations and layouts, find what works best, and get the most from your vertical garden.
