Vertical gardens are a smart and stylish way to bring greenery into small spaces, soften walls, and create living works of art. Whether you’re transforming a balcony, fence, patio wall, or indoor feature, fast-growing plants are essential to achieving a full, lush look in a short amount of time. From cascading vines to upright climbers and trailing herbs, these 10 speedy growers will quickly turn your vertical space into a thriving, green sanctuary.
1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy is a classic choice for vertical gardens, thanks to its rapid growth, evergreen foliage, and ability to cling to walls and trellises with ease. Its lobed leaves create dense, lush coverage, and its adaptability makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. It thrives in partial to full shade and can tolerate various soil types. Regular pruning encourages fuller growth and prevents it from becoming invasive. In vertical gardens, it offers instant elegance and timeless charm.
2. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Golden Pothos is a superstar in vertical gardening. Known for its striking, heart-shaped green leaves splashed with gold or yellow, it’s a fast-growing vining plant that can trail or climb when given support. Ideal for indoor vertical gardens, pothos is incredibly low-maintenance and thrives in a range of lighting conditions, from bright, indirect light to low light. Its air-purifying qualities make it both beautiful and beneficial. Snip and replant cuttings for easy propagation and even more green coverage.
3. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Sweet potato vine is a vibrant, fast-growing plant with bold, deeply lobed leaves that come in shades of lime green, deep purple, and bronze. It cascades quickly and beautifully, making it perfect for vertical walls, trellises, or pocket planters. While it’s typically grown as an annual in cooler climates, it’s perennial in zones 9–11. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Combine different colored varieties for a visually dynamic vertical display.
4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
If you want soft, feathery texture in your vertical garden, Boston Fern is a top contender. It grows quickly in humid environments and cascades beautifully from vertical planters or hanging pockets. Perfect for shaded or indoor vertical gardens, Boston Fern prefers consistently moist soil and indirect light. Regular misting or placement near a humidifier keeps it thriving. Its rapid leaf production and dense growth make it ideal for filling vertical spaces with lush greenery and movement.
5. Climbing Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Climbing nasturtium adds a splash of cheerful color along with its quick growth. This edible flowering vine produces bright, peppery-scented blossoms in red, orange, and yellow, along with round leaves that trail or climb elegantly. It’s a great choice for sunny vertical gardens and trellises. Nasturtiums are low-maintenance, thrive in poor soil, and even deter pests. Plus, both leaves and flowers are edible making your vertical garden as delicious as it is beautiful.
6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are known for their rapid growth and arching green-and-white striped leaves. In vertical gardens, they work wonderfully in pockets or wall planters where their baby “spiderettes” can cascade down in striking patterns. Spider plants thrive in bright, indirect light and tolerate occasional neglect, making them great for beginners. With proper care, they quickly multiply, offering easy propagation and quick coverage perfect for filling vertical space with texture and motion.
7. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
If you’re after dramatic vertical impact and big blooms, trumpet vine is a bold and fast-growing climber. With vigorous tendrils and large trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, orange, or yellow, it attracts hummingbirds and creates a tropical effect. Best suited for sturdy vertical supports like pergolas, trellises, or large living walls, trumpet vine thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Regular pruning keeps it in check, while its speedy growth ensures your garden fills out in no time.
8. Peas and Pole Beans (Pisum sativum & Phaseolus vulgaris)
Edible and ornamental, peas and pole beans are incredibly fast-growing vertical plants that bring beauty and bounty to your space. These climbers grow rapidly up trellises or netting and reward you with lush green foliage, delicate flowers, and delicious pods. They love full sun, require minimal maintenance, and mature quickly making them ideal for short growing seasons. In a vertical garden, they offer charm, practicality, and fresh produce in a compact space.
9. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
This adaptable houseplant is a vertical garden favorite due to its lush, trailing vines and quick-growing nature. The heart-shaped, glossy green leaves create a soft, flowing effect on walls or trellises, and it thrives in bright to low indirect light. It’s forgiving of missed waterings and is easily propagated from cuttings. With consistent care, heartleaf philodendron will fill your vertical space with greenery in just a few weeks, adding a tropical, calming vibe indoors.
10. Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Morning glory is a charming, twining vine that grows rapidly and offers a profusion of vibrant, funnel-shaped flowers in blues, purples, pinks, and whites. Ideal for full sun and well-draining soil, this annual climber can cover trellises, fences, or vertical garden frames in record time. Morning glory opens its blooms in the early hours, making it a beautiful way to greet each day. While it reseeds readily, its quick growth and cheerful appearance make it a vertical favorite.