Mountain Terrace Planter Planting Guidelines

Choosing Plants for Terrace Planters

Terrace planters are different from garden beds at ground level. Plants should be selected with consideration for the size and depth of the planter, the building structure, drainage systems, neighbouring planters and the exposed conditions of a terrace.

When selecting plants, Owners generally should consider:

Mature size
Choose plants whose eventual height and spread are appropriate for the planter.

Root and spreading habit
Avoid plants that spread aggressively through roots, rhizomes, suckers or runners.

Structure and drainage
Plants must not interfere with membranes, drainage openings, weeping holes or other building infrastructure.

Climbing habit
Plants must not attach themselves to walls, railings or other building structures.

Wind exposure
Terrace planters can be considerably more exposed to wind than ground-level gardens. Plants should be appropriate for the conditions of the individual terrace.

Fragrance and shedding
Where planters are close to neighbouring suites, plants with exceptionally strong fragrance or heavy shedding should be avoided.

Overhang
Plants must be maintained so that they do not extend over exterior railings or create a nuisance or safety concern for other Owners.

The lists below provide examples, rather than an exhaustive list of permitted or prohibited plants. A plant not appearing on either list is not automatically approved or prohibited.

If you are unsure whether a plant is suitable for your terrace planter, please contact the Gardening Committee before purchasing or planting it.

Restricted Plants

The following are examples of plants that should not be planted in terrace planters because of invasive behaviour, vigorous spreading, unsuitable mature size, climbing or structural concerns.

Invasive or aggressively spreading plants

· Bamboo, particularly large-growing or running species and cultivars

· Butterfly bush / Buddleja davidii

· Common buckthorn / Rhamnus cathartica

· English ivy / Hedera helix

· Himalayan blackberry / Rubus armeniacus

· Japanese knotweed / Fallopia japonica

· Giant knotweed / Fallopia sachalinensis

· Bohemian knotweed / Fallopia × bohemica

· Himalayan knotweed / Persicaria wallichii

· Purple loosestrife / Lythrum salicaria

· Scotch broom / Cytisus scoparius

· Other plants identified by the Province of British Columbia as invasive or high-risk invasive species.

The Province of British Columbia maintains current information on priority invasive plants:
BC Government: Priority Invasive Plants Table

Plants with vigorous growth, suckering or unsuitable mature size

· Chokecherry / Prunus virginiana

· Elderberry / Sambucus racemosa

· Empress tree / Paulownia tomentosa

· Forsythia / Forsythia suspensa

· Japanese angelica tree / Aralia elata

· Silver maple / Acer saccharinum

· Harry Lauder's walking stick / Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

· Hazelnut / Corylus spp., except where a specific compact cultivar has been approved

· Other large-growing trees or shrubs whose mature size is inappropriate for the planter.

Plants that climb or attach to structures

· English ivy / Hedera helix

· Virginia creeper / Parthenocissus quinquefolia

· Climbing hydrangea / Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

· Gold Flame honeysuckle / Lonicera × heckrottii 'Gold Flame'

· Other vigorous climbing or adhesive plants that may attach to walls, railings or building structures.

Plants requiring special consideration

Some plants may be suitable in a sufficiently large planter or as a compact cultivar but should not be planted without prior approval:

· Arborvitae / Thuja occidentalis, except compact cultivars approved for the planter

· Ginkgo / Ginkgo biloba, particularly female trees because of their unpleasant-smelling fruit

· Kousa dogwood / Cornus kousa, except compact cultivars appropriate for the planter

· Other trees or large shrubs that may eventually outgrow the planter.

Examples of Suitable Plants

The following plants are examples of species and cultivars that are generally better suited to terrace planters because they tend to remain relatively compact and have growth habits suitable for contained planting.

The final choice should always take into account the particular planter, available soil depth, sun exposure, wind exposure and expected mature size.

Shrubs and small woody plants

· Boxwood / Buxus spp., compact cultivars

· Blue star juniper / Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'

· Pink flowering currant / Ribes sanguineum, where planter size permits

· Dwarf mugo pine / Pinus mugo, compact cultivars

· Japanese spirea / Spiraea japonica, compact cultivars

· Japanese yew / Taxus cuspidata, compact cultivars

· Compact Hebe cultivars

· Kinnikinnick / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

· Compact Potentilla / Dasiphora fruticosa cultivars

· Compact heathers / Calluna and Erica cultivars

Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants

· Blue fescue / Festuca glauca

· Compact Carex cultivars

· Other compact ornamental grasses that do not spread aggressively by rhizomes.

Large or vigorous grasses should be avoided unless specifically approved.

Perennials

· Astilbe 'Fanal'

· Bergenia spp.

· Black-eyed Susan / Rudbeckia spp.

· Bleeding heart / Lamprocapnos spectabilis, compact forms

· Campanula

· Daylily / Hemerocallis, compact clumping cultivars

· Gaura (Whirling Butterflies)

· Heuchera spp.

· Lamb's ears / Stachys byzantine

· Sedum (Stonecrop)

· Threadleaf coreopsis / Coreopsis verticillata

· Thrift / Armeria maritima

· Purple rock cress / Aubrieta spp.

· Primrose / Primula spp.

· Rockfoils / Saxifraga spp.

· Hens and chicks / Sempervivum spp.

· Winter rose / Helleborus spp.

Other compact, non-invasive plants with contained growth habits may also be suitable

When in Doubt, Ask the Gardening Committee

These guidelines are intended to make plant selection easier, while protecting the building, drainage systems, neighbouring planters and surrounding biodiversity.

Plant recommendations and invasive-species information can change over time. The Gardening Committee may therefore update the examples in these guidelines as necessary while retaining the principles described above.

If you are unsure whether a plant is permitted or suitable for your terrace planter, please contact the Gardening Committee before purchasing or planting it: gardens@1500ostler.ca

The Committee may request the plant's botanical name, mature size, growth habit and cultivar before approving it.

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