At Elevation Living Walls, we design and build custom living wall installations and sustainable landscape designs throughout San Juan Capistrano and the surrounding communities. Our work bridges modern architecture with nature, honoring this historic city's deep connection to the land while bringing biophilic design to estates, courtyards, and commercial spaces.
From the adobe-lined streets of the historic district to the equestrian properties and luxury homes of the surrounding hills, our living wall systems bring natural texture and life to the built environment.
Whether you're an architect seeking a performance-driven vertical garden system or a homeowner looking to create a lush outdoor retreat, our design-build team handles every phase — from initial concept and fabrication to professional installation and ongoing maintenance. Each wall is engineered for performance, crafted for beauty, and designed to thrive in Southern California's climate.

– Living walls & vertical gardens that transform interiors and exteriors
– Landscape design & construction tailored to your site and style
– Irrigation systems designed for efficiency and plant health
– Architectural lighting to highlight your spaces beautifully at night
– Grading, concrete, and paving for functional and durable foundations
– Water features & fountains that bring movement and tranquility
Our expertise goes beyond plants and planters — we integrate landscape architecture, irrigation, lighting, and construction into one cohesive process. This ensures every living wall performs beautifully and lasts for years, whether indoors or out. From coastal residences to boutique retail and hospitality projects, we bring precision, artistry, and horticultural intelligence to every design.
Here are answers to common questions we receive from San Juan Capistrano homeowners, designers, and builders about living walls and vertical gardens.
Absolutely. Our living wall systems are designed for the coastal climate in San Juan Capistrano with materials and plant selections that resist salt air and thrive year-round.
Depending on what system you deploy there will be different maintenance requirements. However, you can expect plants to grow and in so doing they will need trimming accordingly. It is important to keep a close eye on the soil. Too much or too little water will create challenges to the plants. Soil is the leading indicator of a health.
There are a lot of variables to consider be it indoor or outdoor, edible or ornamental plants. Generally speaking installed system cost approximately $130 - $250 per square foot depending on the quality of the system and the company you work with.
Wow. There are innumerable benefits, but here are just a few of our favorites:
Improved Air Quality- Living walls can filter pollutants and toxins from the air, improving indoor air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Thermal Insulation- Green walls act as natural insulators, helping to regulate indoor temperatures. This can reduce heating and cooling costs by providing an extra layer of insulation.
Noise Reduction- The plants and their growing medium can help absorb and deflect sound, making living walls effective at reducing noise pollution in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Enhanced Aesthetics- Living walls provide a visually appealing and dynamic element to any space. They can transform dull walls into vibrant, living art pieces, enhancing the overall design and ambiance.
Biophilic Design Benefits- Incorporating living walls into spaces aligns with biophilic design principles, which emphasize the human connection to nature. This can improve occupants' well-being, reducing stress and increasing productivity.
Increased Property Value- A well-maintained living wall can enhance the appeal and value of a property. It's a unique selling point that differentiates a property from others in the market.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Support- Living walls can support local biodiversity by providing habitats for insects and birds, contributing to the ecological health of urban environments.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact- By integrating plants into urban settings, living walls contribute to sustainable building practices, reducing the overall carbon footprint and promoting environmental stewardship.
Brand Image and Corporate Responsibility- For businesses, living walls can enhance corporate image by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This can resonate positively with clients, customers, and employees.
Health and Wellness- Exposure to plants and greenery has been shown to improve mental health and well-being. Living walls can create a more pleasant and healthier environment for occupants.
We have walls that have been installed and thriving for over 8 years with no plant swaps or substitutions. With proper care and feeding a vertical garden will last as long as a traditional garden plant. Dr Craig Kolodge taught me that the old decaying roots (also called root fluff) become the new soil by which the plants feed in a carbon exchange for sugar.
A basic residential wall, ranging in size from 40-80 SQF should take 3-5 days. Our typical residential installs take 1-2 days for the hardware and 1-2 days of planting, which are typically conducted offsite. Indoor walls typically take longer.
There are a lot of DIY resources available including kits that we sell. Youtube and Pinterest are good resources for such, but it is important to get an engineered system that will allow the plants to mimic a natural environment that would include good soil health, proper irrigation, drainage, circulation and consideration for exposure to the sun.
Similar to a salt water fish tank, living walls are remarkable and require proper care and feeding to stay remarkable.
Our system is offset from the wall substrate so there is proper air-flow and no direct contact with the wall. When considering a vertical garden it is important to find a system that will not introduce mold or regular moisture to the wall surface.
Our system is offset from the wall substrate so there is proper air-flow and no direct contact with the wall. When considering a vertical garden it is important to find a system that will not introduce mold or regular moisture to the wall surface.
We water our greenwalls 2-3 min every other day in summer and we adjust down seasonally as needed. Every location is unique and will require adjustments accordingly. Our system is engineered for sustainability and requires less water than most, and each tray is watered individually as opposed to needing water to cascade from above.

Mission San Juan Capistrano Gardens
The historic mission grounds feature centuries-old gardens, stone fountains, and lush courtyards that have shaped the region's relationship with landscape and nature for over 250 years. A living testament to the power of plants and water in creating sacred, restorative spaces.
Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
A stunning 8,000-acre wilderness preserve of oak woodland, riparian habitat, and coastal sage scrub along San Juan Creek. One of Orange County's most ecologically rich natural areas — and a constant inspiration for the drought-tolerant, habitat-driven plant selections we use in every local installation.
ocparks.com/parks-trails/caspers-wilderness-park
Los Rios Historic District
The oldest neighborhood in California, where adobe homes, native plantings, and heritage trees create an organic streetscape unlike anywhere else in the state. A beautiful reminder that the most enduring landscapes are those that work with nature and local history.
Lacouague Ranch & Equestrian Properties
San Juan Capistrano's equestrian heritage is woven into its landscape — large-lot properties, mature trees, and open pastures that demand thoughtful, sustainable outdoor design. Our living walls complement these estate settings beautifully, adding vertical greenery that performs in the local climate.
San Juan Creek Trail
A scenic riparian corridor winding through native willow woodland and seasonal wetlands toward the coast. A living example of how California's natural waterways create rich, layered landscapes — and a guiding reference for the native species we incorporate into our vertical garden designs.

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