These are the best plants for landscaping retaining walls. By planting in and around your retaining walls, you can transform these static barriers into lush, dynamic spaces that support biodiversity, aid in moisture management, and enhance the overall beauty of your outdoor space.
Plants For Landscaping Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are vital structural elements in many gardens, designed to hold back soil on sloped properties, prevent erosion, and create level planting spaces.
However, they also offer a unique vertical canvas for landscaping, a chance to incorporate texture, color, and life into what is often a stark, utilitarian feature.
In this post, I’ll explore 13 of the best plants for landscaping retaining walls, providing extensive information about their growing needs, aesthetic appeal, soil and climate preferences, and maintenance requirements.
Why Use Plants on Retaining Walls?
Erosion Control and Soil Stabilization
Many plants, especially those with fibrous or mat-forming roots, help anchor the soil around retaining walls. They hold loose topsoil in place, which is especially crucial on steep or recently constructed slopes.
Improved Water Drainage
Plants can reduce hydrostatic pressure behind walls by absorbing water through their roots. This is essential for the long-term stability of the wall and for preventing costly repairs due to water damage.
Visual Enhancement and Natural Integration
Stone or concrete walls often look harsh or out of place without softening elements. Trailing and mounding plants provide a flowing transition between the wall and the garden, while colorful flowers and foliage turn retaining walls into showpieces.
Habitat Creation and Microclimate Regulation
Wall-planted greenery attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and even birds, fostering a more ecologically balanced landscape. Plants also help reduce surface heat on sun-exposed masonry and improve air humidity in surrounding areas.
What to Consider When Selecting Plants for Retaining Walls
Before choosing plants, consider the unique growing conditions that retaining walls present:
Sunlight Exposure: Observe whether your wall faces south (full sun), north (shade), or receives partial exposure.
Soil Type and Depth: Many retaining walls offer limited soil depth, poor fertility, and fast drainage. Choose plants adapted to tough conditions.
Moisture: Some walls retain moisture, while others dry out quickly. Match plants to the wall’s water availability.
Wall Type: Materials like stone and concrete absorb and reflect heat differently, affecting nearby plants. Masonry walls may warm the soil and suit drought-tolerant plants.
Growth Habit: Use cascading plants for visual flow, mounding plants to crown walls, and creeping plants to fill gaps and prevent erosion.
Hardiness Zone: Always choose plants suited to your local climate and seasonal extremes.
Maintenance Requirements: Fast-growing or spreading plants may need regular trimming, while drought-tolerant species are generally lower maintenance.
13 Best Plants for Landscaping Retaining Walls
Each of the following plants has proven effective for enhancing retaining walls, offering unique benefits in beauty, resilience, or ecological support.
1. Creeping Jenny
- Zones: 3–9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained; tolerates clay and poor soils
- Growth Habit: Fast-growing trailer, 2–4 inches tall, spreads up to 18–24 inches
Why It Works:
Creeping Jenny produces brilliant chartreuse or golden foliage that cascades over walls like a living curtain. Its small yellow flowers appear in late spring, adding extra charm.
The roots hold well in wet or marginal soils, making it excellent for erosion-prone areas. It spreads rapidly and can overtake smaller plants, so edge control or occasional trimming is needed. Creeping Jenny Care Guide.
2. Sedum
- Zones: 3–9 (varies by species)
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Very well-drained; thrives in sandy, rocky, or lean soil
- Growth Habit: Low-growing mats or upright clumps
Why It Works:
Sedums are ideal for dry retaining wall sites with poor soil. Creeping varieties like Sedum spurium and Sedum acre form colorful, thick mats of succulent leaves.
Flowering in late summer with pink, yellow, or white blooms, they attract bees and butterflies. Water lightly in summer during dry spells. Avoid heavy soil, which can cause root rot.
3. English Ivy
- Zones: 4–9
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
- Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained
- Growth Habit: Trailing vine; fast grower
Why It Works:
English ivy is one of the most effective plants for covering large wall surfaces. Its dense foliage smothers weeds and stabilizes steep slopes. Ivy handles shade and drought well once established.
In some regions, English ivy is invasive. Choose a native alternative or keep it heavily pruned and contained. English Ivy Care Guide.
4. Creeping Thyme
- Zones: 4–9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Dry, sandy, or rocky
- Growth Habit: Low-growing mat; 1–3 inches tall
Why It Works:
This aromatic herb is a perfect ground cover for sunny retaining walls. It thrives in dry conditions, has beautiful purple-pink flowers in summer, and is highly attractive to bees.
It’s also edible and ideal between stones or bricks. Shear back lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage more blooms. Creeping Thyme Care Guide
5. Blue Star Creeper
- Zones: 5–9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-draining
- Growth Habit: Dense, ground-hugging mat; 2–4 inches
Why It Works:
Its dainty blue flowers bloom for much of the summer, creating a carpet of soft green foliage that’s perfect for stone wall crevices.
It grows quickly and tolerates some foot traffic. Needs consistent moisture. May die back in extreme heat or drought.
6. Rock Cress
- Zones: 4–9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, alkaline to neutral
- Growth Habit: Spreading mound, 4–6 inches tall
Why It Works:
This cold-hardy perennial is excellent for early-season color, with mounds of purple or violet flowers in spring.
It’s adapted to rocky crevices and alpine-style walls. Cut back after flowering to encourage compact growth and prevent legginess.
7. Trailing Rosemary
- Zones: 7–10
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, light soil
- Growth Habit: Cascading; can trail 2–4 feet
Why It Works:
This edible evergreen herb adds Mediterranean flair to dry retaining walls. Its trailing branches and blue flowers attract pollinators while its leaves offer culinary uses.
Avoid overwatering as the plant hates sitting in water. Light pruning encourages branching and compact growth.
8. Ajuga
- Zones: 3–10
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
- Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained
- Growth Habit: Spreads quickly; 4–6 inches tall
Why It Works:
Ajuga is prized for its colorful foliage (purple, bronze, green) and deep blue flower spikes in spring. It’s excellent for slopes and shady retaining wall bases. Thin periodically to prevent crown rot or overcrowding.
9. Dwarf Mondo Grass
- Zones: 6–11
- Sun: Partial to full shade
- Soil: Moist, humus-rich
- Growth Habit: Small tufts; 2–4 inches tall
Why It Works:
This grass-like perennial provides tidy, structured greenery. It thrives in shade where grass won’t grow and is ideal between wall stones, steps, or as a living mulch.
This is a low-maintenance plant even for beginners. Only cut back if the foliage becomes ragged.
10. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
- Zones: 4–9
- Sun: Partial to full shade
- Soil: Moist, adaptable
- Growth Habit: Ground cover; 3–6 inches tall
Why It Works:
Periwinkle spreads rapidly and fills in bare soil quickly, making it an ideal choice for stabilizing steep, shaded walls. Its periwinkle-blue flowers add spring color. I advise you to check the spread yearly. It can overwhelm slow-growing species if left unchecked. Vinca Complete Care Guide.
11. Ferns (e.g., Polypodium, Dryopteris, Athyrium)
- Zones: Varies by species
- Sun: Shade to part sun
- Soil: Moist, rich in organic matter
- Growth Habit: Upright or arching fronds
Why It Works:
Ferns create a lush, woodland feel in shady retaining walls. Their roots help bind soil, and their foliage adds graceful movement and texture. Add compost in spring. Keep soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells. Fern care guide for beginners.
12. Wall Germander
- Zones: 5–9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, alkaline preferred
- Growth Habit: Low hedge, 6–12 inches
Why It Works:
This small evergreen sub-shrub forms neat mounds with pink-purple flowers in summer. It’s excellent for sunny wall tops or raised beds. Shear after blooming to maintain a compact shape.
13. Lamb’s Ear
- Zones: 4–8
- Sun: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Well-drained, sandy
- Growth Habit: Low mound; 6–12 inches
Why It Works:
The silvery, fuzzy foliage of lamb’s ear is drought-tolerant and reflects heat. It creates a striking contrast against stone walls and is deer-resistant. Remove flower stalks to preserve foliage quality. Avoid waterlogged soils.
How to Plant on or Around Retaining Walls
- Use Tiered Levels: Layer different plants at various heights for visual interest.
- Fill Wall Pockets with Soil Mix: Use a mix of potting soil, compost, and sand for root penetration.
- Drip Irrigation: Install for consistent moisture without erosion.
- Add Mulch Carefully: Helps retain moisture without clogging drainage holes.
Final Thoughts
Planting retaining walls is a rewarding way to improve your garden’s functionality and visual richness.
Whether you’re looking for cascading vines, drought-resistant ground covers, or lush greenery for shady spots, there’s a plant in this list that can turn your wall into a living work of art.
Choose plants based on your wall’s specific conditions and your design goals. If you love flower gardening, subscribe to my newsletter for more awesome posts. Also, save the pin below. Thanks!
