Wall Climbing House Plants

In addition to ivies, there are several climbing plant options for your indoor garden. If not assisted, they will produce descending chains of leaves which are also visually appealing. With vertical supports, however, you can fill a blank wall with floral vibrancy. Choose between plants that are known for their colorful or distinctive leaves, or for their gorgeous blooms.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also referred to as devil's ivy, is a houseplant that can be trained to climb up your wall. In this case, a pole or stake is inserted into the pot to start the creeping process. Strategically place nails or hooks along the wall for vines to adhere to; manually lay stems along these hooks to ease the climb. Julie Bawden Davis, in her book "Indoor Gardening the Organic Way," says that pothos is the easiest climbing plant to grow indoors. Pothos may also be planted in a hanging basket so that its foliage forms vertical cascading chains. Pothos leaves are glossy green and variegated with splotches of yellow or white, depending on the variety. Leaves are heart-shaped and may grow up to 12 inches long. Pothos is beneficial to a home environment, as it removes toxins and adds pure oxygen to the air, according to the University of Vermont. Do not let your pets or young children ingest any part of the plant, as the leaves and stems are poisonous.

Split-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) is native to tropical jungles in Central America where it grows up to 70 feet high. In your home, it can climb along your walls up to 15 feet vertically and 8 feet horizontally. Split-leaf philodendron is nicknamed the "Swiss cheese plant" because of its distinctive foliage. As the plant matures, its leaves develop more and more slits and holes, making it look like its moniker. In the wild, and rarely indoors, split-leaf philodendron produces fruit that are cone-shaped and taste like a cross between banana, pineapple and mango. If you would like this plant to climb your wall, provide it with vertical structures and hooks for assistance. Philodendron leaves and stems are also toxic when ingested.

The wax plant (Hoya carnosa) is an easy-to-grow houseplant that can be trained to climb your walls or left to trail its vined foliage. The plant gets its common name because of the texture of its elongated, oval-shaped leaves. The leaves are alternately arranged along the vine and are succulent, which means they retain water. If you provide your wax plant with direct light, it will bloom to produce dense clusters of light pink, star-shaped flowers. To promote its climb, loosely tie the stems to vertical hooks with florist wire.