Rise Up: 15 Vertical Gardens With a Creative Edge
Bring green art to your garden with a living wall inspired by these stunning displays
Vertical gardens are a fabulous way to jazz up outdoor spaces. Whether you’re looking to add some greenery or distract attention from an unappealing wall or fence, plant life will add colour, softness and beauty to the area. The lush structures are ideal for many spaces, such as small courtyards, larger yards where they can emulate the look of a cliff, or even indoors. Establishment costs vary dramatically so it’s best to consult a landscape professional when embarking on a project like this to work out which plants are suitable for the amount of sunlight and shade the wall will receive, and the size of the structure and irrigation system required. As for the design? These stunners certainly lead the pack, so take some inspiration from them and set the tone for your new vertical garden.
2. Merge the indoors and out
Here, a home office cleverly uses a partial green wall to provide a sense of tranquillity that has the added benefit of purifying the air.
Here, a home office cleverly uses a partial green wall to provide a sense of tranquillity that has the added benefit of purifying the air.
3. Sacred bathing space
A green wall forms a gorgeous backdrop for bath time with its assortment of herbs, geraniums and mosses. A trickling watering system refreshes the space with fragrant bursts of mint and lavender.
A green wall forms a gorgeous backdrop for bath time with its assortment of herbs, geraniums and mosses. A trickling watering system refreshes the space with fragrant bursts of mint and lavender.
4. Industrial appeal
This succulent wall incorporates a variety of plants with contrasting colour, texture and form. The rusted metal wall surround accentuates its beauty, adding to its sculptural appeal.
This succulent wall incorporates a variety of plants with contrasting colour, texture and form. The rusted metal wall surround accentuates its beauty, adding to its sculptural appeal.
5. Column design
Neat panels of foliage lend this substantial garden wall an air of formality while establishing a feeling of calm with the plants’ soothing colours.
Neat panels of foliage lend this substantial garden wall an air of formality while establishing a feeling of calm with the plants’ soothing colours.
6. Evocative mural
This creative vertical landscape uses plants arranged by shape and colour to create a living, constantly evolving work of art.
This creative vertical landscape uses plants arranged by shape and colour to create a living, constantly evolving work of art.
7. Asian inspiration
This glorious design features an assortment of textured foliage around a central sculptural panel with dramatic lighting for an overall effect of a harmoniously integrated feature.
This glorious design features an assortment of textured foliage around a central sculptural panel with dramatic lighting for an overall effect of a harmoniously integrated feature.
8. Shaggy delight
This Melbourne yard displays giant liriope on a cumaru hardwood deck and wall, inviting the viewer to come closer and unlock the space’s shady secrets.
This Melbourne yard displays giant liriope on a cumaru hardwood deck and wall, inviting the viewer to come closer and unlock the space’s shady secrets.
9. Megastructure
A vast metal framework planted with a variety of grassy vegetation and succulents in gentle curves makes this panel an unforgettable showpiece.
A vast metal framework planted with a variety of grassy vegetation and succulents in gentle curves makes this panel an unforgettable showpiece.
10. Delicate beauty
This timber fence in Mooloolaba, Queensland, draws the viewer’s attention with its complex arrangement of dainty solo plants that form part of a larger artistic display, creating an all-encompassing wall of art.
This timber fence in Mooloolaba, Queensland, draws the viewer’s attention with its complex arrangement of dainty solo plants that form part of a larger artistic display, creating an all-encompassing wall of art.
11. Up, up and away
In this fuss-free Melbourne courtyard, differing levels of foliage add visual and tactile interest and distract from the fence panels in a manner that’s at once orderly yet a little wild.
In this fuss-free Melbourne courtyard, differing levels of foliage add visual and tactile interest and distract from the fence panels in a manner that’s at once orderly yet a little wild.
13. Simple yet effective
This stunning structure utilises only three colours but the shock of orange foliage breaks up the expanses of green to form a work of art as lovely as a painting.
This stunning structure utilises only three colours but the shock of orange foliage breaks up the expanses of green to form a work of art as lovely as a painting.
14. Low-maintenance delight
The differing foliage of a variety of waterwise succulents has been utilised to create a stunning high-impact display that’s reminiscent of a garden path on this vast panel.
The differing foliage of a variety of waterwise succulents has been utilised to create a stunning high-impact display that’s reminiscent of a garden path on this vast panel.
15. Cosy space
This living wall separates the outdoor shower from the rest of the garden. Grasses, succulents and vines are planted vertically in modular units to create the feel of a mini oasis. And we think it succeeds nicely!
This living wall separates the outdoor shower from the rest of the garden. Grasses, succulents and vines are planted vertically in modular units to create the feel of a mini oasis. And we think it succeeds nicely!
This wall will stop guests in their tracks with its oversize swirls and varying colours for dramatic effect.