If you have an east- or west-facing garden that spends the day shifting between sunny and shady, you will know the struggle of getting plants to thrive. Don’t be caught in the middle with our top easy-going picks!
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East- and west-facing gardens are, as the names suggest, gardens that face east or west. Since we’re talking about vertical gardens, this can refer to balconies, courtyards and other outdoor spaces. East- and west-facing gardens will enjoy partial sun and shade throughout the day.
East-facing gardens tend to get most of their sun in the morning and will be cast in shade during the afternoon and evening. West-facing gardens are the opposite: They spend the mornings in shade before soaking up the sun in the afternoon and evening. In both instances, plants need to be able to tolerate partial sun and shade. Here are our ten best easy-going plants (easy-going because they are suited to the shifting sun and shade of east- and west-facing gardens).
Carex ‘Ice Dance’
Despite its name, carex ‘Ice Dance’ enjoys time spent in the cool morning shade as much as it does under a warm afternoon sun. A grass-like sedge, carex will bring a vibrant, voluminous look to any east- or west-facing living wall display. As carex grows it will spill over the sides of the PlantBox, creating a stylish waterfall effect. Carex is a favourite among new and low-maintenance gardeners alike: It is easy to grow, requires little attention, and is drought-resistant.
Fun Fact: the study of carex is known as caricology and there are over 2,000 species. Out of those 2,000 species, we also recommend ‘Red Rooster’, which produces slender firework tails of rust-orange, and ‘Irish Green’ for, you guessed it, that perfect deep Irish green. Both work as a replacement for ‘Ice Dance’ or can be used together to create a display full of volume, texture and colour. Sarah and Tony used a variety of carex species in their PlantBox living wall to transform their small patio into a welcoming, lush entertainment-cum-relaxtion space.
Campanula (Bellflowers)
Another plant that thrives in sun and shade, campanula is a perennial with evergreen foliage that produces purple bell-shaped flowers in the summer. Bees and other pollinators love them, so if you want a display that will support local wildlife and practically ring with colour then this is the plant for you. When your guests gravitate towards your display in mass admiration (as they are certain to do) you will be able to impress them with your planting knowledge and reveal the name ‘campanula’ is Latin for “little bell”.
Euonymus ‘emerald gaiety’ and ‘emerald n’ gold’
These evergreen shrubs will provide year-round colour, offering a bright beryl green and bold gold respectively. Euonymus is a versatile plant that offers multiple planting options: You can let it trail over the sides of the PlantBox, keep it well pruned, or allow it to climb if planted against a wall—this last option is ideal if you want your display to really take over your garden! It also makes a good foil to more ornamental flowers.
Heuchera (Coral bells)
Heucheras are near-enough evergreen and have large leaves that are perfect for adding that much-needed splash of colour to your living wall display. They also boast some of the best names in the horticultural world—‘Fire Chief’, ‘Apple Twist’, ‘Palace Purple’ to name a few. These plants are ideal for the living wall life and look gorgeous when planted in groups. With over several hundred varieties to choose from, there are plenty of colour options at your disposal, from subtle blushes to big, bold blooms. Mix varieties to create a visual patchwork of plants or, if you want a quick, no-nonsense colourful display, use them to plant up your entire display. Heucheras will attract butterflies and bees, supplying them with pollen during the out-of-season months.
Pachysandra (Japanese spurge)
A hardy plant that loves to soak up the shade, pachysandra is equally comfortable on a strict diet of partial sun and shade. The evergreen leaves can appear either as glossy green or variegated—the cream margins help the leaves to stand out without ever threatening to steal the show. Pachysandra is a versatile plant that works in a range of living wall environments, from city and courtyard gardens to coastal displays. Easy-going gardeners will rejoice to learn they require no pruning.
Polystichum (Korean rock fern)
This truly hardy evergreen fern provides interest and texture to your living wall all year round, and is ideal for those who love a low-maintenance plant. Once planted, it can thrive without much attention. Polystichum is perfect for achieving a living wall display with a wild, tropical look.
For those wanting multiple ferns or simply a different option of frond—what we like to call an alfernative—consider polystichum’s very close cousin, the shield fern. There are various varieties, all with names like soft shield fern, copper shield fern and shaggy shield fern to give you a clear idea of what they will bring to your display.
Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia)
This flowering plant goes by many names (glossy-leaf paper plant, fatsi, and paper plant among them) and is easily recognised for its leafy ‘fingers’. Native to southern Japan, southern Korea, and Taiwan, fatsia will add some exotic jungleness to your east- or west-facing living wall display. It has something for every season: it will thrive throughout summer, bloom small white flowers in late autumn or early winter, and bear small black fruit in spring. If your living wall is positioned so that the top rows are likely to receive more (even full) sun, you can consider planting fatsia in them as they can be left in full sun or partial shade.
Armeria maritima (Sea thrift)
Armeria, which can also be grown from seeds, develops slender stems of bright pink pom-poms that bloom in late spring and summer. It can grow in some of the most challenging conditions, including dry, sandy and saline, such as coastal cliffs (maritima, incidentally, means pertaining to the sea or coastal in Latin). Its pollen-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators, and is perfect for those wanting to encourage more local wildlife into their outdoor space.
Hebe ‘albicans’ (White hebe)
A New Zealand native, hebe is a dense bushy shrub with evergreen foliage. The small off-white flowers that earn its name appear in the summer, and sometimes in spring or autumn. Providing hebe is grown in a sheltered position, this hardy plant will thrive in full sun and partial shade, and can even tolerate the conditions of south- and north-facing living walls too. Other varieties of hebes offer decorative leaves and flowers that bloom in shades of blue, purple or pink.
Phlox paniculata (White Admiral)
Perhaps best known as an ornamental plant for their showy fragrant flowers, phlox is a perennial (sometimes evergreen) with lance-shaped leaves that stay green throughout spring and summer, while its pure-white flowers will inject colour to a living wall display during the summer. Suited to exposed and sheltered environments, phlox is super hardy and capable of surviving even the severest conditions Europe can muster.
Things to consider
Depending on where your living wall is positioned, different parts of the display may receive different amounts of sun and shade throughout the day. For example, the top rows may experience a full day of sun or the bottom rows might spend the entire day cast in shade. In these instances, you might find that sun-loving and shade-happy plants are suitable for these particular areas in your living wall display.
- The Ten Best Sun-loving Plants for a South-facing Garden
- The 10 Best Shade-happy Plants for a North-facing Garden
About PlantBox
We understand that traditional gardening isn’t always possible. Suitable indoors and outdoors, PlantBox allows you to create your own vertical garden—grow large amounts of plants in the smallest of spaces. Visit the PlantBox page or find out more below.
Say goodbye to daily watering
Each PlantBox has a water level indicator to show how thirsty your plants are and holds 1.8 litres of water, preventing water-wastage and the need for daily watering. Simply pour water into the top PlantBox and it will cascade into those below, filling up each 1.8 litre water reservoir as it goes. An inner wicking-felt lining then allows the plants to draw up water as and when they need it.
Eco-friendly and easy to assemble
A RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year 2021 Finalist, PlantBox is made in the UK from 100% recycled materials and is designed to be lightweight, long-lasting and easy to assemble. Once clipped and stacked together, PlantBox can be left freestanding or mounted to a wall, fence or railings.
Suitable for a wide range of plants
Including foliage and flowering plants, perennials, grasses, fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Looking for further planting inspiration? Download our free Get The Look guide. We have carefully crafted 6 stunning and easy-to-achieve looks — displays designed to drop jaws and redesign any space — complete with plant lists and helpful tips.
Transforming more than one space
1% of PlantBox sales is pledged to 1% For The Planet, a global organisation that supports non-profits who are tackling our most pressing environmental issues.
Other features
Versatile use. The compact size makes PlantBox ideal for homes, balconies, courtyards and gardens.
Instant impact. Once planted, PlantBox immediately transforms the space it occupies.
Futureproof. PlantBox is designed to be durable and reusable. The living wall can be unstacked and used again elsewhere.
Benefits
Reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Spending time around plants is proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Read more.
A vertical allotment. PlantBox can be filled with home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs—strawberries are a big favourite! It is a great way to save money, eat more nutritious foods and reduce carbon footprint. Read more.
Cleaner air. Plants have a massive impact on the air people breathe. They create cleaner, healthier air by absorbing high levels of pollutants, which they then turn into food. Read more.
Increase biodiversity. A living wall of plants increases the biodiversity of the local area and will encourage bees, butterflies and birds.
Support local pollinators. Planting pollen-rich flowers will provide local populations of pollinators with essential food and shelter.
A growing trend. Living walls are fast becoming an increasingly popular solution to restyling urban spaces and combating climate change and pollution.
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