South facing wall

Arthur1

I have unexpectedly gained a South facing wall to be planted. Have already decided I must have a fig. Has anyone got any other interesting ideas?
I don't want fruit trees. I garden in Shropshire so plants can suffer in cold winters, for example Trachelospermum is not worthwhile here.
I have some access to soil at the base of the wall, so could plant out from a four or six inch pot but also love growing plants in containers. Any ideas welcome?

GardenerSuze

@Kate 7 I have a south facing wall and have struggled because the wall it'self is so hot vegetation does not want to cling. I do have a lovely golden ivy, which is a haven for birds and insects plus the odd mouse.
In the south west corner right by the wall, I have Melianthus Major in the ground it has survived the last five winters. You could plant it in a big pot but not sure if it would come through the winter it would be better off in the ground. 

Arthur1

Melianthus is a possibility. Does well on my allotment. Hardy here if I can keep it well drained.

nick615

A south facing wall is the ideal site for a lean to greenhouse.  What about a grape vine?

GardenerSuze

@Kate 7  If it is well drained I am sure that would help but if Jasmine struggles then all the lovely exotic plants won't work as you say because you are too far north. I wondered about an espalier apple but I am no expert on them?
You may not want to but you can add Shropshire to your profile.  

Arthur1

GardenerSuze said:

@Kate 7  If it is well drained I am sure that would help but if Jasmine struggles then all the lovely exotic plants won't work as you say because you are too far north. I wondered about an espalier apple but I am no expert on them?
You may not want to but you can add Shropshire to your profile.  

Jasmine did work, too well. It's one of the plants we have removed. It was up in the eaves, behind the drain pipes etc. Soil is rubbishy rubble as you would expect at the base of a wall. But clematis  jasmine  rose and grape have all thrived there.

Desi_in_London

@Kate 7 I suspect Gardener Suze was referencing the star jasmine ( trachelospermum) you said isn't hardy in your region. Excuse any misspellings.

Arthur1

The trouble with common names...
Actually trachelospermum is hardy, just not worth growing. I saw some fantastic ones growing in front gardens near Chelsea Physic Garden which put mine to shame. So I removed it. I have a new garden policy of only growing plants that look good for a lot of the year   and which I can provide appropriate conditions for. So some wonderful plants had to go. For instance Cercis Forest Pansy, super tree but did not thrive here.

GardenerSuze

@Kate 7 I have also grown Cersis Forest Pansy and managed to keep it going for only one year.  Would pyracantha be worth a try you could train it as an espalier. Or Chaenomeles , I love the red form and it can be trained against a wall. I have Cotoneaster horizontalis trained as a fan on a west facing fence.

@Desi_in_London Thankyou I should have made myself clear. I was thinking of summer flowering Jasmine. Some years ago it wasn't completely hardy here. You have given me an idea Jamine Nudiflorum can look lovely if hard pruned after flowering.