I just love this building in downtown Orlando covered in vines!
 |
| Creeping fig, Florida Living Walls, Orlando |
Yes I know it is a common vine, creeping fig, Ficus pumila, one that is not even native species. But despite the fact that this low maintenance, drought tolerant is an exotic landscape plant, I still appreciate its use in covering otherwise, blank concrete block walls.
It is important to always check to make sure a landscape plant is not listed by regulatory agencies as invasive, and creeping fig, Ficus pumila, is not on any invasive lists I am aware of. The plant is actually a relatively slow grower.
Here the plant is also shown growing on the historical Lady of LaLeche Chapel in St. Augustine.
 |
Creeping Fig, Ficus pumila, living walls, Chaplel LaLeche, St. Augustine
|
|
 |
| Creeping Fig, Ficus pumila, living walls, Chaplel LaLeche, St. Augustine |
Living walls offer so much. They;
- Reduce urban heat island effect
- Provide habitat for wildlife and insects
- Sequester carbon
- Produce oxygen
- Create a sense of place and add immense beauty
- Integrate in natural pest control
- Serve as insulation
- and provide so many more benefits!
Kudos to creeping fig and those who have planted it at the locations shown above.
