living wall

bluehamster1968

I'm thinking of building a wooden wall with planters fixed on both sides(I'll drill drainage holes in the bottom of the planters).Are there any shallow rooted perennials?

Fairygirl

Yes, is the short answer 
However, you'd need to offer a bit more info. What dimensions are the planters? What aspect are they going to be in? Do you want evergreens?
Wood will also need to be lined to help retain moisture and to prevent the wood deteriorating quickly.
Your climate and location will also have an effect on choices, as well as the amount of time you have for maintenance   

bluehamster1968

I'm in the southeast of England,so the climate is warm.Ideally I'd like something fragrant.At the moment,it's still in the planning stage,so dimensions are flexible.The most likely location faces southwest.

Fairygirl

I think that's quite difficult if you want fragrance. Dianthus would be my best suggestion. There might be some dwarf roses that would work, but I don't grow roses, so I'm not sure on that. They'd need hearty soil though. 
Lavender. 
Salvias maybe, and some Agastaches if there was enough depth, and also enough height for them to grow. They may stay smaller as they would be restricted. 

Other than that, I'm struggling to think of scented plants that would be small enough. I also have a poor sense of smell, so fragrance isn't something I focus on. Others will have ideas and alternatives to suggest. 

Annuals would be easier, or smaller unscented perennials, plus things like dwarf, hardy Geraniums, small grasses and ferns, and some Alpines and Sempervivums,  but the dimensions of the planters will also dictate what works, and how many plants would fit. 

JennyJ

Maybe some of the smaller herbs like thyme, if it's sunny enough.

bluehamster1968

Hmmmm,just as well I have a "plan B"!
What I'll do instead is a raised flowerbed with a taller raised flowerbed behind it,a taller raised flowebed behind that.As all the flowerbeds will be in direct contact with the soil the beds are on,it won't matter if the roots are shallow or not.
So I can have short fragrant plants at the top,and taller ones lower down etc.
Thanks for the reply.

didyw

Keep us posted @bluehamster1968 - be great to see pics of what you achieve.

Fairygirl

I think that's an easier solution for you @bluehamster1968
I do a similar thing in this garden, but rather than beds being behind one another, they run sideways - different heights and depths,  and sometimes divided as well, so that I can have plants which like opposite conditions, planted next to each other