Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Saturday - September 15, 2012
From: Bethesda, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Lists, Vines
Title: Plant to trail down concrete block retaining wall in Maryland
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hello, Your website is an excellent resource. Thank you very much! My girlfriend recently bought a house that has a concrete block retaining wall in the front yard. We want to improve the appearance of this wall but we don't want to invest in a masonry facade. I can tell the retaining wall was not professionally installed and I have questions about it's durability. The wall holds back a substantial amount of soil. At the top of the wall are excellent Azaleas and a patch of grass. At the bottom is the poured concrete driveway. When I saw your site I realized that a plant native to Maryland that would droop over the side of the wall and grow down towards the driveway would be the ideal low cost visual improvement. We don't want a climber for this location because we are afraid a climber would climb up the Azaleas. Do you have any recommendations for a plant we could place at the top of the wall that would grow over the side of the wall and droop down the side? Thank you very much for your help!!ANSWER:
First of all, thank you very much for the compliment!
Here are several vines/trailing plants that should work for your wall. For the ones that are designated as vines you will need to be vigilant in keeping them from climbing up the azaleas. You may want to construct a string trellis to "train" them to trail down the wall.
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle) is an evergreen vine, but will trail across the ground. Here is more information from Floridata.
Phlox subulata (Creeping phlox) will trail over the wall for a short distance. It is a great groundcover. Here is more information from Views from the Garden.
Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper). Be sure to read the warnings about its invasiveness. If you train it to trail over the wall, it should be an excellent cover. Check its tendency to climb up the azalea plants. It can be trained to trail down the wall. Here is more information from Linders.
Clematis virginiana (Devil's darning needles). Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper). Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Lists Questions
Native Plant for a Sunny South-facing House Wall in Tucson
March 01, 2014 - I have a problematic block wall on the south side of the house and I what a plant to soften the look of the wall. I tried butterfly bush which I'm told died from of bounce-back heat from the wall. I ...
view the full question and answer
Indoor and Outdoor, Fast Growing Plants for California
October 22, 2015 - I’m looking for the best plants for me. I have small kids so they would have to be safe. I would like them to be able to grow inside or outside. I would love for them to grow fast and reproduce fast.
view the full question and answer
Windbreak [Dustbreak] for Shelton, WA
May 31, 2013 - I live on a well traveled, dusty, gravel road in the Pacific North West and would like to plant a barrier to help control the dust.
view the full question and answer
Native flowering plants for Frisco, Texas
August 12, 2015 - Hi There, I recently moved from Ohio, Cleveland to TX, Frisco. Could you please suggest me native flowering plants in my back yard and front yard. I like different flowers.
view the full question and answer
Plants for strip between sidewalk and street
June 21, 2015 - Dear Sir,
My name is Brandon. I live in Leander TX (just North of Cedar Park).
I have an area that is in the "street strip" (in between sidewalk and asphalt) of my home that I would like to d...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |