15 Plants for Outdoor Vertical Gardens in India

Choosing greens for an outdoor vertical garden may be a hectic task, but there are a few crucial matters to pay attention to, like the zone's weather conditions, sunlight conditions, and location. One must research their local temperature, climate, and humidity before stacking lots and lots of plants for their outdoor vertical gardens. 

Today, we will discuss some of the best and most common outdoor vertical garden plants in India that you can bring home to start your stunning vertical gardens outdoors, on a balcony, or even on your terrace. 

Let us begin our list with this stunningly coloured plant to spice up your vertical gardens in the sun!

1. Grenadine Alternanthera

Grenadine Alternanthera is characterized by its vivid crimson, maroon leaves with rich burgundy spots that are both beautiful and pointed. The glossy texture of the plant's leaves is a stunning feature. A mature Grenadine Alternanthera plant can reach a height of 18 inches and a width of 12 inches. Full to partial light is ideal, and once established, the plant will reward you with yearly clusters of pure white flowers. This mounded plant is great for landscaping and may also be used in a variety of container settings. There are many hundreds of species in this cheerful family, all of which are planted for their colorful foliage.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full to partial 
Soil Moisture: Moist
Foliage Colour: Burgundy
Watering: Less frequent
Location: Outdoors

2. Alternanthera ficoidea 'White Carpet'

The silvery green leaves of the ornamental shrub Alternanthera 'White Carpet' are accented with white borders and rough textures, making it a popular landscape choice. The young, white leaves of the Brazilian Snow plant are densely clustered around the stems, giving the plant the appearance of a dense bouquet. This small plant is prized for its low maintenance requirements and its visually appealing foliage. This plant has beautiful, tropical leaves that will give your outdoor terrarium or vertical garden an evergreen appearance.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Foliage Colour: Silver-green white
Watering: Moderate Water
Location: Outdoors

3. Asparagus Fern

However, Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri,' more often known as the Asparagus Fern, is a lily and not a fern at all. The small, needle-like leaflets on this exquisite plant's green foliage give the plant a delicate aspect. Its finely-textured leaves are a perfect match for those of other houseplants that thrive in high humidity. Small, white or pale pink blooms bloom on mature plants in warm climates; sometimes the vines bear green berries that look like fruit but are toxic if eaten. The beautiful cascade of the Asparagus Fern makes it an ideal plant for hanging pots or green walls, where it may be used to decorate otherwise bare areas.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Foliage Colour: Green 
Watering: Allow soil to dry out partially between waterings.
Location: Outdoors and indoors

4. Ophiopogon

Common names for the ophiopogon plant include lilyturf and mondo grass. This smoothly spreading perennial is reminiscent of grass and can be used in vertical gardens. The summertime blooms of an Ophiopogon are pure white. It's possible for Mondo Grass to reach a height of 12 inches and a width of 15 inches. Due to their modest growth rate, these plants require little attention beyond occasional pruning. The famous evergreen grass can be used as a filler plant because it is strong and long-lasting. This perennial grass is ideal for use in vertical gardens because of its gorgeous foliage, which comes in a range of colors.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Medium moist
Foliage Colour: Dark green or purple
Watering: Average, low
Location: Outdoors and indoors

5. Ipomoea

It's estimated that there are close to 500 different species of Ipomoea, including perennials, evergreen shrubs, and even trees. As annuals, ipomoea can be grown either indoors or out. Some of the most frequent types of this plant are the Ipomoea Batatas and Ipomoea Black. With its heart-shaped purple leaves, Ipomoea Black is a lovely addition to living walls. The 'Black' variety needs about the same amount of water as other varieties and is simple to care for. Sweet potatoes, or Ipomoea batatas, are popular root vegetables. Different varieties have been selected for their aesthetic or nutritional qualities. This plant's vibrant foliage is a major selling point, and it does best in direct sunlight.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Moist, good drainage
Foliage Colour: Green, Purple/Lavender
Watering: Average, thorough watering
Location: Outdoors and indoors

Vertical Gardening Plants and Other details

6. Lantana White

Bigleaf Lantana 'Lucky white' is a sun-loving evergreen shrub that grows into a dense, bushy mound of dark green leaves and is showered with white and multicolored flowers from late spring to fall. Beautiful flowers of a creamy or white hue emerge constantly on this lovely shrub. The Lantana is a hardy, long-lasting plant widely prized for its beautiful flowers. This little plant packs a big punch as a decorative filler, and it's perfect for tight quarters. Wearing gloves and washing one's hands after touching this plant are recommended because of its potential toxicity.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil Moisture: Medium moist, good drainage
Foliage Colour: Dark green
Watering: Average, moderate
Location: Outdoors

7. Lantana Dallas Red

It's no secret that the extended bloom time of these verbena-like flowers is highly regarded. In order to give your yard a splash of color and interest, try growing lantana red. This plant has clusters of red flowers with a few yellow ones in the middle. The vivid flowers, which mature to a reddish hue, bloom reliably in hot areas. This shrub is low-maintenance and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, shouldn't need a lot of pruning.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full, partial
Soil Moisture: Moist, good drainage
Foliage Colour: Green
Watering: Average, moderate
Location: Outdoors

8. Rhoeo Spathacea

Moses' Cradle Flower (Rhoeo Spathacea) Succulent plant has a clump of robust, sword-shaped leaves. Its green and purple leaves are very vibrant and lovely, and they grow from a trunk-like stem. This plant blooms white flowers continuously throughout the year. If you want your plant to have a strong, healthy root system, you need to water it regularly throughout its first growing season. These are equally at home in the garden or as part of a lively houseplant. Plants of the genus Rhoeo Spathacea are easily identified by the rosettes of long, waxy leaves they produce, which are typically purple on the undersides.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full, partial
Soil Moisture: Moist, good drainage
Foliage Colour: Green, purple
Watering: Less frequent
Location: Outdoors

9. Song of India

The Song of India tree, or Dracaena reflexa, is a tropical species that can be found on islands all across the Indian Ocean. Due to its low maintenance requirements, it is a fantastic option for first-time gardeners. In its natural environment, this broadleaf evergreen can reach heights of 12-20 feet. The tiny stripes on the dark green leaves make for a unique design. Tolerating low water levels is a big reason why this plant is so easy to care for. Even though your Song of India can withstand dry spells, it does best in a well-drained, consistently moist environment. The leaves are short and pointed. This plant is slow growing and is a fantastic choice for an outdoor vertical garden.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full, partial
Soil Moisture: Moist, good drainage
Foliage Colour: Green with yellow stripes
Watering: Thorough soak once in a while
Location: Outdoors and indoors

10. Vernonia

There are about 350 different species of Vernonia, including climbers, shrubs, trees, annuals, and more. These can be found in soil throughout the world, although the most common locations for cultivation are South America, Africa, and Asia. Veronica plants are characterized by their erect stems, stalkless leaves, and flat-branched heads of brilliant purple or, rarely, white flowers. These lovely flowers bring in a variety of winged creatures, including bees, butterflies, and even some small birds. Vernonia plants are hardy, low-maintenance, and look great in residential landscaping, particularly in vertical gardens.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full, partial
Soil Moisture: Moist but well-draining
Foliage Colour: Green with purple stacks 
Watering: Thorough soak once in a while
Location: Outdoors

11. Ficus Panda

Even though they originated in East Asian tropics, you may find them just about anywhere there are warm climates. Some are towering trees grown in the wild, their massive roots providing structural support; others are attractive shrubs. The ficus tree, a member of the fig family, is a perennial favorite and an easy houseplant to maintain. The pantropical genus Ficus panda includes numerous species of vines, shrubs, and trees that thrive in a wide variety of habitats. The rounded, glossy leaves of the ficus panda are feathery and light. Almost any garden will have this really pretty plant. The ficus panda needs to be kept in a cool, dark location, misted and watered on a regular basis, and protected from the sun. The plant's tiny, unremarkable flowers are a secondary attraction to its spectacularly large leaves. The genus Ficus includes both trees and shrubs as well as woody vines. The ficus tree is a common focal point for vertical gardens since it can be found in a wide range of sizes and shapes.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Indirect, partial
Soil Moisture: Moist but well-draining
Foliage Colour: Green
Watering: When soil gets dry, water only then
Location: Outdoors and indoors

12. Portulaca

Portulaca is a beautiful addition to any garden, especially given the rise in popularity of succulents in recent years. This sun worshipper's blossoms, come in a rainbow of pastel and bright tropical hues, blooming nonstop for weeks from summer to winter. The plant is able to withstand high temperatures and low humidity with relative ease, making it ideal for situations where maintenance is not required. A dense ground cover that trails along the ground and has fleshy, up to 1-inch-long leaves that grow singly on brittle, red or green stems. Purslane (P. oleracea) grown for its ornamental qualities has flat paddle-shaped leaves, whereas moss rose (P. Grandiflora) has more pointed, needle-shaped leaves. It's easy to get the two species of purslane (P. oleracea and P. umbraticola) mixed up because of their similar names. However, the former has smaller, broader leaves and more vibrantly colored flowers. Cultivated for its rose-like blossoms, which may be white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple, or even a contrasting shade of the two. Portulaca blooms can be either solitary or double, and their petals can be smooth or ruffled. The flowers shut their petals at night and stay shut throughout cloudy days.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil Moisture: Sandy but well-draining
Foliage Colour: Green with vibrant hues of flowers
Watering: Sparingly
Location: Outdoors

13. Plumbago Blue

The plumbago plant is a sprawling shrub that has vine-like branches. Its long-lasting abundance of blue phlox-like flowers is one of its most desirable qualities. When determining where to expand, size matters. Because of their space requirements, a garden outside is a great place to plant plumbago plants. It's a good foundation plant because it grows into an evergreen shrub. Plumbago requires little attention because it is resistant to pests and diseases. Full sun is ideal, but partial shade is fine if you don't mind fewer flowers. It grows best in rich, moist soil, but is otherwise not picky. It is stunning when grown over a retaining wall, whether made of stone or wood or when planted in a green wall and allowed to cascade over the edge, creating a torrent of greenery and striking blue blooms.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil Moisture: Fertile, well-drained soil
Foliage Colour: Green with vibrant blue blossoms
Watering: Moderate
Location: Outdoors and indoors

14. Schefflera Green

Two varieties of the big tropical plant genus Schefflera are excellent choices for tropical indoor plants. Schefflera actinophylla, sometimes known as the umbrella plant or umbrella tree, gets its common name from the way its enormous, glossy, oval green leaves drape gracefully from a central stem. If you plant a Schefflera outside, you may expect it to grow at a rate of three feet per year. The Schefflera green varieties are the best for outdoor vertical planting. They are low-maintenance and simple to care for. These plants must be placed in a location that receives indirect light.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Bright, indirect sun
Soil Moisture: Rich, well-drained soil. 
Foliage Colour: Green 
Watering: Regular and frequent watering in summer
Location: Outdoors and indoors

15. Golden Dewdrops

The Duranta plant, often called golden dewdrops, is a tropical broadleaf evergreen that is commonly grown as an annual outdoor shrub or in a potted houseplant. The lovely blue or purple blossoms of the golden dewdrop plant are a welcome addition to any outdoor or indoor space. Tender as it may be, the plant does best in warm climates, full sun, and rather nutrient-poor soil. It also requires a lot of water to develop properly. Being a native of Mexico and the Caribbean, golden dewdrops thrive in temperatures between 26 and 35 degrees Celsius. It's ideal for the Indian climate since it keeps growing even when the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. An ever-blooming perennial, golden dewdrop adds a welcome splash of color to a variety of settings. It's recommended to put it in loamy soil and water it frequently, as this sensitive plant needs both of these conditions to thrive.

Plant Needs

Sunlight: Bright, full sun to a slightly shaded area
Soil Moisture: Rich, well-drained soil. 
Foliage Colour: Green 
Watering: Regular showers
Location: Outdoors and indoors

_________________

Check for indoor vertical garden plants here!

And there you go! All the beautiful plants to decorate your outdoor space with stunning blooming plants. Let us know which one is your favourite!