"Tess" wrote in message
news:HorYc.203973$8_6.101424@attbi_s04...
Hello--I'm in Zone 8 and I'm looking for ideas on what to plant atop my
tall
retaining wall that will give it a little color and some "softness",
cascading downward. While we get a lot of rain, the summers are droughty,
so it should not be too delicate. Any suggestions?

Hmmmm.......zone 8 with ample rain and droughty summers - sounds like the
PNW!! Prostrate rosemary would be an excellent choice for this situation,
assuming it gets plenty of sunlight. Most vines will have a tendency to want
to grow upwards, but rosemary cascades beautifully. Evergreen, fragrant and
sporadically convered with tiny blue flowers. And you can use it for cooking
just the same as upright rosemary. Look for cultivars like 'Irene' or
'Huntington Carpet' - each will cascade a good 3 feet or more.

Another, less extensive cascader would be the Helianthemums or sunroses.
Also evergreen with foliage color ranging from deep green to a silvery gray
and covered in late spring and early summer with a profusion of tissue
paper-like flowers in your choice of colors - reds, red-orange, peach, pink,
yellow or white.

pam - gardengal