Birds & Blooms recently published a great project article by Alison Auth about creating a “living wall” using old shutters and drought-tolerant succulents. While this project could work well in any part of the country, I started thinking about a great way to adapt this project specifically for Southeastern gardens – by using epiphytes, also known as air plants.
Tillandsia aeranthos
Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants, trees, buildings, and other structures. They are not parasites and don’t do any harm. Instead, these plants take the nutrients they need from the air and rain, sometimes by accumulating debris around their roots. Two common ephiphytes found in in the Southeast are Ball Moss (Tillandsia recurvata) and Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), both members of the Tillandsia genus.
Tillandsia displays at MOSI BioWorks in Tampa
Tillandsiaalso includes many more ornamental species, often with showy flowers and interesting foliage. They’re readily available for sale at many nurseries, and extremely easy to care for, in that they basically require no care at all, especially if kept outdoors. Tillandsia is often incorporated into living artwork by tucking it into the nooks and crannies of dead or even living tree branches, such as the ones displayed at the MOSI BioWorks Butterfly Garden in Tampa.
This is where the two ideas collide – if you like the idea of a Tillandsia display, but want a more formal look than a tree branch, create a living wall from recycled shutters following the instructions in the article. Then, tuck in Tillandsia and other types of ephiphytes (options include varieties of fern, orchid, and bromeliad). In dryer climates, you may need to mist the display occasionally, but throughout most of the Southeast, outdoor humidity will meet the plants’ needs nicely. (Protect from freezing in colder climates.)
The more I think about this project, the more it appeals to me, and I hope to give it a try in my own yard this summer. If anyone out there has a chance to try this project, I’d love to see your finished product. Drop me a line in the comments and let me know how it turns out!
