Green Wall at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport - Birmingham, AL
Photo: Birmingham Airport Authority

What Is a Green Wall?

Green wall, living wall, plant wall, vertical garden - call them by any other name, and they’re still a super cool way to enjoy living with plants. We’ve rounded up 101 reasons why green walls are a great addition to any space. But first, what exactly is a green wall?

A green wall, also known as a living wall or vertical garden, is a structure covered in vegetation that is attached or integrated into a building's exterior or interior. It is a sustainable and innovative way to bring nature into urban environments. Green walls can range in size from small installations in private homes to vast, intricate designs on the facades of commercial buildings. These living artworks not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a space but also provide numerous benefits. They improve air quality by filtering pollutants, reduce noise levels, regulate temperature, and can even contribute to energy savings by providing insulation. Additionally, green walls create a habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife, adding to the biodiversity within urban areas. In a world growing increasingly urbanized, green walls offer a visually stunning and ecologically beneficial solution to rejuvenate built environments and reconnect people with nature.

101 Reasons Green Walls Are Great

Etsy Headquarters - Brooklyn
Photo: Gensler

Green walls look cool.
No space? No problem. Green walls save space by growing vertically.
Green walls purify the air.
Green walls’ soil and root systems can filter air and VOC’s.
Green walls help with sound absorption.
Green walls inspire creativity.
Green walls alleviate stress.
Green walls help calm anxiety.
Green walls support productivity.
Green walls promote feeling of well-being.
Green walls use less water than traditional ground-watered plants by incorporating targeted irrigation so each plant gets just enough water to thrive.
Green walls can recycle water and are often equipped with pump systems that recirculate water.
Green walls can be adapted to different environments, making them popular around the world as a way to add greenery, particularly in densely urban environments. They are adapted to regional conditions with variables such as system structure, plant selection, irrigation controls, light control and soil configuration.
Green walls can grow almost anywhere.
Green walls can grow with soil.
Green walls can grow without soil.
Green walls can grow indoors.
Green walls grow happily outdoors.
Green walls can grow in low light conditions, with shade-loving plants and/or the addition of supplemental light.
Green walls can filter pollutants by roadways.
Green walls can filter VOCs.
Green walls can freshen stale office air.
Green walls can use grey water. Studies have shown that plant walls can filter water.
Plants make people happy.
Green walls help inspire our love of nature.
Green walls help remind us to protect nature.
The plants in green walls may help reduce EMF radiation electromagnetic radiation field by absorbing radiation.
Green walls are great for teaching kids about plant care.
Green walls can enhance therapeutic settings.
Green walls are good tools for occupational therapy.
Green walls are great for growing live herbs near kitchens.
Green walls can be flower gardens.
Green walls can support pollinators.
Green walls can grow food.
Although we haven’t tested it ourselves (wink wink), green walls can grow other kinds of plants for personal use in states where legal.
Green walls are a great solution for apartment dwellers who don’t have outdoor space.
Green walls can help alleviate heat island effect.
Green walls beautify public spaces.
Green walls cool buildings by insulating outdoor walls.
Green walls cool outdoor spaces around them.
Green walls reduce carbon dioxide levels.
Green walls reduce greenhouse gases.
Green walls can have a positive impact on employee morale.
Green walls can have a positive impact on overall employee satisfaction.
Green walls help to demonstrate employers’ commitment to creating healthy work enviroments.
Green walls enhance curb appeal.
Green walls help to attract potential buyers or tenants.
Green walls provide year-round visual interest.
Green walls are a great way to showcase seasonal holiday cheer and decorative accents.
Green walls can incorporate a wide range of colors for visual interest.
Green walls can display plants of different textures.
Green walls add a natural greenery decor element to indoor and outdoor spaces.
When incorporated with logo designs and brand colors, green walls can be used to amplify company branding.
Green walls are a way to add plants to a space without the added cost of individual planters.
Green walls make stunning photo backdrops.
Green walls can increase exposure for businesses.
Green walls attract clients or customers.
Can be used to break up open office concepts
Can become functional space dividers with integrated workplace tools
Can be used as privacy screen
Green walls contribute to a soothing atmosphere
Create a healing atmosphere
Greenwalls can improve employee retention
Can be a factor in recruitment
Encouraging hybrid workers to come to the office
Green walls can create a sense of seclusion
Encourage mindfulness
Green walls reinforce a companies commitment to sustainability
Green walls can include air purifying plants that can alleviate allergy symptoms
Can be used sensory stimulation
Green walls can attract tourists
Green walls can reduce energy consumptions
Can lower utility costs
Because who needs boring walls when you could have green walls
Green walls spark conversation
Green walls are living wall art that is ever evolving
Green walls are an eye catching focal point
Can be educational
Green walls constantly grow and change over time, creating a dynamic way to observe the wonder of nature.
Green walls can be incorporated into refuge spaces to reduce sensory overload.
Green walls maximize space efficiency.
Green walls supplies and upkeep can support local businesses.
Green walls are trending.
Green walls create micro-climates.
Green walls inspire meditation.
Green walls reduce light glare.
Green walls can act as room partitions.
Green walls can encourage healthier habits.
Green walls can improve indoor acoustics.
Green walls can help save the bees.
Green walls can help relieve stress.
Green walls can reduce anxiety.
Green walls can be virtually any size.
Green walls don’t damage your walls.
Green walls make a great DIY project.
Green walls can help you put down your phone and notice nature.
Green walls can be used for plant propagation.
Green walls can increase humidity in dry environments.
Green walls are a convenient way to grow botanicals for health and beauty.
With proper care green walls can last for decades.
GREENWALLS ARE AWESOME!

Larkin St Substation by TEF Design - San Francisco
Photo: ***Mikiko Kikuyama***

Here at Vert Plantworks, our love of all things planty is pretty clear to see. We love working with living plant walls because of the amazing myriad of ways we can artfully bring walls to life. Green walls captivate us with their undeniable charm. There are countless reasons why we have fallen in love with these living tapestries of luscious foliage. Firstly, green walls effortlessly bring nature into our living and working spaces, infusing them with a sense of serenity and tranquility. In our fast-paced, concrete-dominated world, the sight of lush greenery climbing up walls evokes a much-needed connection to the natural world. Moreover, green walls provide a plethora of benefits, from improved air quality and noise reduction to increased energy efficiency and enhanced biodiversity. Beyond their various environmental advantages, these verdant masterpieces also serve as works of art, transforming ordinary walls into living canvases bursting with vibrant colors and textures. In the end, it is the inherent beauty, the environmental benefits, and the calming ambiance that green walls offer that make them truly irresistible and why we continue to adore them.