Elevated planter boxes are a fantastic solution for urban gardening, bringing greenery to balconies, rooftops, and patios. To maximize their visual impact, choosing the right trailing plants to spill gracefully over the edges is key. These cascading varieties soften hard lines, add a sense of lush abundance, and draw the eye downward, creating beautiful vertical interest. Here are some of the best trailing plants that will thrive in the conditions of your elevated urban planters.
For sunny spots, consider these vibrant options:
* Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas): Prized for its vigorous growth and heart-shaped leaves in shades of lime green, deep purple, or variegated cream and pink. It's a tough plant that provides fantastic foliage color all season.
* Bacopa (Sutera cordata): This charming plant is covered in tiny, delicate white or light blue flowers from spring until fall. It thrives in full sun to part shade and creates a cloud of soft color.
* Calibrachoa (Million Bells): Often called "mini petunias," these plants produce a massive number of small, bell-shaped flowers. They are available in almost every color imaginable and bloom relentlessly with minimal deadheading.
* Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia): A fantastic foliage plant with round, golden-yellow leaves that cascade beautifully. It's adaptable to both sun and part shade, adding a bright, cheerful element.
If your planter is in a shadier location, these plants will perform beautifully:
* English Ivy (Hedera helix): A classic and reliable trailing vine with elegant, lobed leaves. It's incredibly adaptable and comes in many variegated forms that brighten up shady corners.
* Trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus): Known for its stunning, true blue flowers, it also comes in purple and white. It prefers cooler temperatures and part shade, making it perfect for spring and fall displays.
* Vinca Vine (Vinca minor): This plant features glossy, dark green leaves and can produce pretty periwinkle-blue flowers. It's a robust grower that adds a touch of elegance.
For planters that receive a mix of sun and shade, these are excellent choices:
* Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Both the leaves and the vibrant, edible flowers trail beautifully. They come in warm hues like red, orange, and yellow, preferring a bit of neglect and poorer soil.
* Plectranthus (Swedish Ivy): With its scalloped, often fragrant leaves, this plant is a rapid grower that fills out a planter quickly. It's very low-maintenance and thrives in filtered light.
Care Tips for Success:
* Watering: Elevated planters, especially in windy urban environments, dry out quickly. Check the soil moisture frequently and water when the top inch feels dry.
* Soil: Use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix to prevent waterlogging.
* Feeding: Since these are heavy bloomers and growers, fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to keep them looking their best.
* Pruning: Don't be afraid to give your trailers a light trim mid-season to encourage bushier growth and prevent them from becoming leggy.
By selecting the right trailing plants for your light conditions and providing basic care, you can transform your elevated planter boxes into stunning, overflowing displays of color and texture.