Recommendation for trailing wall covering plant?

[Kroton]

Hi everyone!!

I'm completely new to outdoor gardening, and man oh man has it been overwhelming trying to educate myself!!! Never realsied indoors was so much easier, it sounds somewhat counter intuitive!

CONDITIONS
I have a balcony that I've lined with wall hanging baskets. It's L shaped, south facing and east facing (so the parapets the baskets are hanging on are north facing and west facing I suppose). A third of the south facing one is sheltered by balcony above, but the vast majority is unsheltered. Was hoping to cover the wall with trailing plants and just put up a ton of wall baskets. I'm really strruggling to get consistent info on what would do OK. I live in Glasgow incidentally. The balcony is quite windy as it faces a park and very sunny, though the south facing part will have the parapet shade the trailers. No conservatory or indoors options.

DREAM LIST
If I could get something with variegated leaves like Paddy's Pride I'd be really happy...If that's too much to ask for anything hardy and evergreen that is happy being pruned (but also capable of reaching down to the ground, so around 1m).

Would really be obliged with any help!! Thanks in advance!

[Bigmallly]

Hello Kroton & welcome to the Jungle, are you looking for annuals or perennials? Balconies full of trailing Geraniums or Petunias always make me smile.

[Kroton]

How are you Bigmally, thanks for you welcoming and the reply!! It's quite a long if shallow balcony, so I don't think I'll be able to afford annuals. It'd be nice and keep me busy but unrealistic, so perennial suggestions would be great! Thanks again!

[Bigmallly]

How would trailing Strawberries fit in?.............or trailing Tomatoes.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Kroton and welcome from me too
I've moved your post into the "Flower Mill" where more people will see it.
Is there any reason why you shouldn't grow a variegated ivy like Paddy's Pride? Ivies seem to be as tough as old boots! They give a splash of colour all year round and are easy to propagate by sticking a few shoots in water until they root.

[Kroton]

Many thanks for both replies!! Are trailing strawberries or tomatoes evergreen? I thought strawberries were deciduous? I'll google these again!!

Thanks for the welcome veggiechicken! You reckon ivy would survive here? I wasnt sure if it trails or just climbs also (really REALLY new haha)...also slightly worried it will consume the wall...but love its look and would make me happy...

[Bigmallly]

Strawbs & Toms are not evergreen.

[veggiechicken]

Strawberries are deciduous, toms wouldn't overwinter. We're usually asked about edible plants so we tend to home in on those first.
With the ivy, it will grow in any direction, with a bit of help! I assume you want it to trail down the inside of the balcony, where you can see it. How about one in a basket to trail down and one in a pot to grow up towards it?

[Kroton]

I did google and see about strawberries and tomatoes...But i think i'd love to grow both on pots, as they are my two favourite things to eat! I know the focus here is more food related (and I intend to start a thread about fruit trees in this space too) just wanted to get the walls done first and then look at the fruit trees

I do indeed want to grow it on the inside of the balcony..maybe some heucherellas or violas if they are hardy enough and ivy to go up would be amazing, thats a great idea! Just still looking for a short list of hardy enough perennial trailers, but slowly getting there. I think the two I mentioned there plus Clematis Old Mans Beard might work hopefully!

[Martin H]

Periwinkle is a trailing evergreen and will put up with shade.

[veggiechicken]

Nice suggestion, Martin - and there's a variegated version! https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90781/...search-results

[Kroton]

I hope I can somehow return the favour, you's are dead nice! OK I love the Periwinkle, variegated too wow! Do you think the ones I mentioned before would also likely survive? If I can choose between periwinkle, heucherella, paddy's pride (though still scared of its effect on the wall) the old man beard clematis and Viola Volantes, maybe even mix and match one for the east east/south facing wall one for the north facing inside I'm genuinely really happy... But even if only one of them was a relatively safe option I'm still grateful!

[Kroton]

Kind of worries at least for the Heucherellas that they won't grow tall/low enough...they seem to peak at 50cm according to my research so far anyway.

[Bigmallly]

I've notice you've not thought of any scented climbers i.e Honeysuckle or Jasmine............I guess you just want to cover the wall with minimum effort.

[Kroton]

Hi Bigmally,

no, not at all, I'm happiest taking care of them so effort is not an issue- just lack of knowledge! I thought the Jasmines might not be hardy enough from what I had looked at and never knew about Honeysuckle- I'll look into it now!There will also be about 10 trees in that area hopefully so I know I'll have my hands full! Do you think the short list of periwinkle, Honeysuckle, heucherella, paddy's pride and Viola Volantes would be ok here? I was worried nothing would work so if I can pick between all these I'll be really happy, though until I do always happy with suggestions, you guys know your stuff!