Tumbling perennials

[queen of the cobs]

I'm getting quite a reputation amongst my non-green fingered friends for vast horticultural knowledge, little do they know that much is gleaned for the combined expertise of the grapevine.

I was hoping you could make some suggestions for some hardy perennials which could be planted in a bed on top of a wall with a 6 foot drop, which would tumble over the top of it, and down the wall face. The soil is INCREDIBLY sandy and dusty, which I have no experience of, living and gardening as I do on a bed of London clay.

I've suggested some stonecrops for the bed itself as ground cover, but think the tumbling idea is a lovely one too. I'm just unsure what will thrive in such poor soil.

Many thanks.

[Jeanied]

How about passion flower? Variegated ivies will do ok as well.

[queen of the cobs]

Thanks jeanied, I think my friend was looking for something more like a tumbling viola or similar.

I've got a passion flower in my garden and unless you've got lots of space for it to roam, not sure I'd recommend it - I seem to spend my life chopping it back!

[Jeanied]

Ah - well how about some of the hanging basket favourites? Most of those are annual though.

If you want perennial then the only ones I can think of are Vincas - there is quite a range of colours and habits from light blue to dark purple flowers and small leaves to large variegated.

[tamsin]

Aubretia? It wouldn't tumble more than about a foot or so but it survives our rockery which gets quite dry. Couple of colours to choose from and I found it came up easily from seed if you want a lot of it.

Golden Alyssum (the perenial version) would again tumble a bit over the edge.

We've got something blue that's got the same sort of habit - another rockey plant that's low growing but planted on the edge will hang over.

Be worth looking at climbers - as with no support they may hang over and 'climb' down.

[rustylady]

Any chance of making planting pockets in the wall further down?

[veggiechicken]

A 6' drop is asking a lot of a plant in poor soil. I grow Geranium "Ann Folkard" RHS Plant Selector Geranium 'Ann Folkard' AGM / RHS Gardening in all sorts of inhospitable places - it will scramble through other plants or trail downwards. Needs a good haircut in the winter though so could look a bit bare.
Maybe look at honeysuckle or jasmine?

[queen of the cobs]

Lots of good suggestions, thanks all.

I don't think she wants them to drop over more than about a foot or so, so the Aubretia, alyssum, saponarias should do very well. I might suggest strawberries too ;o)

[veggiechicken]

Perennial wallflowers look good too. Alchemilla Mollis - froths over the edge

[bend1pa]

Mazus Reptans. Excellent perennial trailer sending out numerous shoots which are will eventually grow 1' - 2' long with a mass of lilac flowers over Spring and early summer. The foliage turns purple in winter.

Helianthemum BenFhada with Mazus Reptans | Flickr - Photo Sharing!