Top 10 cascading plants for retaining walls

  • 5 minutes
  • 11 February 2025

If you’re contemplating a garden makeover featuring a retaining wall, incorporating cascading plants is essential! Not only do they enhance the visual appeal, but they also create the impression of a well-established garden. While the options are virtually limitless, we’ve chosen our top 10 favourite cascading plants that are both hardy and low maintenance — the ideal combination for effortless beauty!

Beyond cascading gracefully over retaining walls, cascading plants are perfect for softening areas around rocks and boulders. They also shine when spilling from tall containers or hanging baskets. With various selections available, keep reading to find the optimal match for your unique landscaping needs.

Dichondra Argentea – Dichondra Silver Falls

Silver Falls is at the top of our list of cascading plants for its striking effect over retaining walls and large pots. A native of the USA, this hardy plant can take full sun to partial shade and even withstand cold climates. In addition, Silver Falls only requires moderate watering. However, if in a pot in a hot location, your lovely cascading plant will need more regular watering.

Whether its for hanging pots or retaining walls, cascading plants are a striking feature

Be inspired by this stunning retaining wall project

Rosmarinus Prostrate Rosemary – Trailing Rosemary 

Known as an evergreen perennial, Creeping or Trailing Rosemary grows low, making it an excellent ground cover or another impressive cascading plant option for your retaining wall. The best part about Trailing Rosemary is that you can add it to your cooking just like regular rosemary. Another hardy, drought-tolerant plant, Trailing Rosemary can handle full sun or part shade and needs well-drained soil.

Discover this project highlighting lush landscaping

Helichrysum Petiolare – Licorice Plant

The Licorice Plant brings a touch of unique charm from its native South Africa. This delightful low-grower showcases soft, velvety silver-grey leaves, releasing a sweet licorice fragrance. This drought-tolerant choice thrives in full sun to partial shade and flourishes best in well-draining soil, ensuring a lush, low-maintenance addition to your garden.

Licorice plants are a striking plant, perfect for a range of applications

Find out more about this DIY retaining wall project

Casuarina Glauca – Cousin It

Aptly nicknamed ‘Cousin it’ this Australian native is another fantastic addition to any retaining wall. The thin foliage creates a mop-like mound that’s perfect for retaining walls, pots or ground cover. The dark green appearance also combines beautifully with the light shade of the Silver Falls, creating a contrast to your garden. Another hardy plant, Casuarina Glauca, can take full sun. Plus, it only needs moderate watering in winter and a little more in summer to ensure the soil stays moist.

Cascading plants provide texture and depth

Ficus Pumila – Creeping Fig 

The Creeping Fig is typically a climber but makes a fantastic cascading plant overflowing a retaining wall. The heart-shaped evergreen foliage will look great all year, and due to its fast-growing nature, you will need to prune it to keep it under control. Just like Silver Falls and Cousin It, the Creeping Fig can take full sun or part shade. Ensure the soil is well-drained, and you will have a thriving plant that only needs moderate watering.

Climbing plants also work perfectly as cascading plants

Sutera Cordata – Bacopa

Bacopa is a charming, whimsical cascading plant with small single flowers in delicate white, pink, or mauve hues. Its compact growth makes it an excellent choice for adding depth and texture as an edging plant along retaining walls. Bacopa thrives in sun or light shade, bringing a vibrant touch to your garden. However, this lovely plant is sensitive to extreme heat, and its beautiful blooms may take a break during very high temperatures. With a little care, Bacopa can be a captivating addition to your repertoire of cascading plants.

Bacopa is a striking plant for ground cover or retaining walls

Senecio Rowleyanus – String of Pearls

The String of Pearls showcases small, bead-like leaves that gracefully drape down over retaining walls. This eye-catching plant flourishes in bright, indirect light and requires well-drained soil to thrive. With its striking appearance, the String of Pearls will surely bring a blend of charm and intrigue to your indoor or outdoor space.

Ceropegia Woodii – String of Hearts

The String of Hearts is a delightful cascading plant celebrated for its charming heart-shaped leaves. Like the String of Pearls, it thrives best in bright, indirect light. Not only is this cascading plant appealing, it’s also easy to propagate through stem cuttings, making this a hardy, easy-growing choice.

Choose cascading plants to add depth and texture

Left – String of Pearls, Right – String of Hearts

Hedera Helix – English Ivy

English Ivy is a versatile cascading plant that excels in both indoor and outdoor settings. Beyond its glossy, deep green leaves, English Ivy is celebrated for its air-purifying qualities, effectively reducing airborne mould and allergens.

English Ivy adds depth to outdoor spaces

Lysimachia Nummularia Aurea – Golden Creeping Jenny

You may know this vibrant ground cover as Creeping Jenny, Goldilocks or Gold Moneywort. The foliage ranges from light green to yellow with the addition of yellow flowers in summer. The key to growing Creeping Jenny is to use moist, well-draining soil, and this cascading plant will tolerate full sun to part shade.

Golden Creeping Jenny is a favourite cascading plant of many

Add texture and depth with cascading plants

As can be seen, cascading plants are a fantastic way to elevate your space, especially when paired with retaining walls. Their ability to soften harsh edges and add texture makes them indispensable for creating a serene landscape that feels both inviting and established. With their hardy nature and low maintenance requirements, our top 10 cascading plants are not just aesthetically pleasing; they can also contribute to a healthier environment.

Want more plant-spiration? Check out our top architectural plants for even more ideas!