You’re looking to bring some greenery to your small home, but you’re not sure which plants will thrive in compact spaces. Compact succulents like aloe, echeveria, and crassula are ideal for vertical gardens, tolerating low water levels and infrequent watering. Flowering plants like petunias, sweet alyssum, and geraniums add color and vibrancy, while low-light champions like Chinese Evergreen and Pothos can tolerate environments with limited natural light. Trailing plants, air-purifying plants, and easy-care herbs are also great options. As you explore the world of vertical gardens, you’ll discover many more plants that can transform your small home into a lush oasis.
Compact Succulents for Tight Spaces
When designing a vertical garden with limited space, you’ll want to opt for compact succulents that thrive in cramped conditions, such as aloe, echeveria, and crassula, which have adapted to survive in small, shallow soil profiles.
These succulents have evolved to store water in their leaves, stems, or roots, allowing them to tolerate low water levels and infrequent watering. Their compact growth habits and slow growth rates make them ideal for vertical gardens, where space is at a premium.
For healthy growth, make certain your compact succulents receive bright, indirect light and maintain good air circulation to prevent moisture buildup.
Water sparingly, as overwatering can be detrimental to these plants. With regard to soil, use a well-draining mix specifically designed for cacti and succulents to prevent waterlogged soil.
Flowering Plants for Vertical Gardens
While compact succulents provide a great starting point for vertical gardens, you can add an extra layer of visual interest by incorporating flowering plants that thrive in vertical spaces.
These plants won’t only add color and vibrancy to your space but also provide a sense of movement and life.
When selecting flowering plants for your vertical garden, consider varieties that have a trailing or cascading habit, such as petunias, sweet alyssum, or creeping Jenny.
These plants will spill over the edges of your vertical garden, creating a lush and dynamic display.
You can also opt for compact, upright varieties like geraniums, begonias, or impatiens, which will add a pop of color and texture to your space.
Make sure to choose plants that match your vertical garden’s lighting conditions and care requirements to guarantee they thrive.
Low-Light Champions for Small Homes
In dimly lit areas of your small home, low-light champions like Chinese Evergreen or Pothos thrive in vertical gardens, tolerating conditions as low as 50-75 foot-candles.
These plants have adapted to survive in environments with limited natural light, making them ideal for rooms with north-facing windows or areas with heavy shading. Chinese Evergreen, for instance, can tolerate as little as 25 foot-candles, while Pothos can thrive in conditions as low as 10 foot-candles.
When selecting low-light plants, consider the specific lighting conditions in your space.
If your room receives indirect sunlight or has limited natural light, opt for plants like Peperomia or ZZ Plant, which can survive in extremely low-light conditions.
These plants are perfect for vertical gardens in small homes, as they’re compact, low-maintenance, and can thrive in tight spaces.
Trailing Plants for Walls and Ceilings
You can train vining plants like Wandering Jew, Creeping Jenny, or Sweet Alyssum to cascade down walls or across ceilings, adding a lush, dynamic element to your vertical garden.
These trailing plants are perfect for small homes with limited floor space, as they can thrive in compact spaces and add visual interest to your walls and ceilings.
When choosing a trailing plant, consider the lighting conditions in your space. For example, Wandering Jew and Creeping Jenny tolerate low to medium light, making them ideal for north-facing walls or rooms with limited natural light.
Sweet Alyssum, on the other hand, prefers full sun to partial shade, making it perfect for south-facing walls or ceilings.
To train your trailing plants, simply attach them to a trellis or a wall-mounted planter and prune them regularly to encourage dense growth.
With proper care, these plants will flourish and create a stunning display of foliage and flowers in your vertical garden.
Air-Purifying Plants for Indoor Spaces
Boost the air quality in your indoor space by incorporating air-purifying plants, which can effectively remove pollutants and toxins from the air, creating a healthier environment for you and your family. These plants are natural air filters, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, while also eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Some of the most effective air-purifying plants for indoor spaces include Spider Plants, Peace Lilies, and Dracaena.
Spider Plants are easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of lighting conditions, making them perfect for beginners.
Peace Lilies, with their elegant white blooms, are known to remove ammonia, acetone, and ethyl acetate from the air.
Dracaena, with over 40 varieties, can tolerate low light and infrequent watering, making them ideal for busy homeowners.
Easy-Care Herbs for Small Gardens
What’s holding you back from growing your favorite herbs year-round, even in a small garden, when compact varieties of basil, mint, and parsley can thrive in vertical spaces?
These easy-care herbs are perfect for small gardens, requiring minimal maintenance and care. For instance, compact basil varieties like ‘Genovese’ and ‘Sweet Basil’ grow up to 12 inches tall, making them ideal for vertical gardens.
Mint, another low-maintenance herb, can be grown in partial shade and requires minimal watering. Parsley, with its curly leaves, can be grown in well-draining soil and partial shade.
When choosing herbs for your vertical garden, consider the specific growing conditions for each variety. Most herbs require well-draining soil and full sun to partial shade.
Water them when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Fertilize your herbs regularly with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
Prune your herbs regularly to encourage bushy growth and prevent them from becoming leggy. With proper care, you can enjoy fresh herbs year-round in your small garden.
Erzsebet Frey (Eli Frey) is an ecologist and online entrepreneur with a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Belgrade. Originally from Serbia, she has lived in Sri Lanka since 2017. Eli has worked internationally in countries like Oman, Brazil, Germany, and Sri Lanka. In 2018, she expanded into SEO and blogging, completing courses from UC Davis and Edinburgh. Eli has founded multiple websites focused on biology, ecology, environmental science, sustainable and simple living, and outdoor activities. She enjoys creating nature and simple living videos on YouTube and participates in speleology, diving, and hiking.