These Plant Ladders Are My Favorites

If you’re confused by the term “plant ladder,” or your search results are displaying something other than what you had in mind, that’s ok! There are a few different styles of trellises and shelves that are commonly referred to as “plant ladders.” I’ve included my favorite options for all of these on this list.

• Straight ladders: These look like extension ladders (usually without the extension feature). They’re two simple parallel or converging posts with rungs strung between them. You can mount these to a wall or ceiling or lean them up against a wall or even in your plant’s pot.
• Ladder-style trellises: This isn’t an official category, but it’s the name I’m giving to staked trellises that are designed with a ladder structure. I love these for my small- and medium-sized houseplants.
• A-frame plant ladders: These are more often used as plant shelves rather than plant trellises, but I think that the best ones can serve dual purposes. These are excellent for displaying multiple potted plants in one place.

Don’t get me wrong—I love a gorgeous, ornate plant trellis as much as the next girl, but more often than not, I just want something simple and effective that helps my plants grow. A ladder structure is about as functional as it gets when it comes to giving your plant something to climb, and I like that it works equally effectively as a support to tie tall plants to and as a structure for vines to latch on to. Plus, you can’t really beat a ladder structure for simple, clean, and versatile aesthetics.

There are a ton of different plant ladders out there. When choosing my favorites, I looked at a mix of trellises, straight ladders, and a-frame ladders. All of the plant ladders on this list meet at least one of those criteria. Plus, they’re functional, sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, and a good value for their price. I think you’ll be happy using any of the plant ladders on this list, so choose the one that suits your individual needs.

If you’re looking for a functional (and let’s be honest—low-effort) way to step up your plant game, might I recommend one of the plant ladders below?

Photo by Lauren Vigdor 

I think that The Climber wins the title of the most versatile ladder-style trellis for small and medium houseplants. I’m currently using one to prop up a particularly rebellious pilea peperomioides, but it would work equally well supporting a vining plant like a philodendron or pothos. 

The gaps in the trellis are large enough that I was able to gently weave the stem of my pilea through them without breaking it, but you could easily tie a more rigid plant to it for support. 

I think the wide, open ladder makes this trellis work well for all kinds of plants, and I love how easy it is to use—you just push the rubber-coated stakes into the soil at the base of the plant. 

It’s not modular, but it does come in three different sizes. Plus, this one gets bonus points for being made from environmentally friendly, sustainable bamboo. 
Price: 6”: $14.99 | 9”: $19.99 | 12”: $24.99

• It’s made from sturdy, eco-friendly bamboo
• The stakes are coated in rubber for durability
• It comes in three sizes

• It’s not great for very large houseplants
• It’s not modular/expandable

If you’re looking for a large plant ladder that gives your space a rustic vibe, it doesn’t get much better than…well…a ladder.

The trellis in this image was actually DIY-ed from pine boards and a wooden closet bar, but if you’re not super handy or are short on time, you could easily achieve this look using a small ladder from an antique store or a ladder-style towel rack from a home goods store.

If you use a wooden ladder, you can stain or even paint it whatever color you want. If you want a more modern/industrial and less cottage-core/rustic look, choose a metal ladder like this one instead.

You can also hang your ladder horizontally and use it as a propagation station and plant display.
Price: Varies

• It adds a lot of visual impact
• It gives you the look of a wall trellis without having to attach anything to your walls

• It’s a little unwieldy to move around
• You might have to do some hunting to find the perfect ladder to suit your space

This plant ladder is definitely a shelf and not a trellis—though if you place some cascading/vining plants on it, I’m sure they’d be more than happy to wind their way around the shelf’s structure.

This is an excellent and unfussy option for displaying a selection of houseplants all in one place. You can even style this with some books or artwork in between plants—it is a shelf, after all.

I like that this is sturdy, affordable, and doesn’t take up too much space—plus, it’s made from bamboo!
Price: $54.99

• Made from eco-friendly bamboo
• Provides plenty of space for plants within a relatively small footprint
• It’s very versatile

• This one might be a little too boring for some people’s tastes

This is another easy-to-use ladder trellis that can get plunked into the soil with your houseplants. I like the way this one looks, but the smaller openings mean that this one is best suited for vining plants only.

I think that this plant ladder is best suited for country- and cottage-style decor but it’s simple enough that it won’t look terribly out of place regardless of your other design choices.
Price: Mini: $11.95 | Standard: $24.95 | Large: $49.95 | Mini + Standard: $35.95 | All Three Sizes: $84.95

• It comes in three sizes (plus two bundles) 
• No assembly required
• You can move it around with your potted plant 

• I wish this was made of something eco-friendly like bamboo or something more water-resistant
• These are on the pricey side, and you don’t actually save much money with the bundle options

This rope ladder can be hung on the wall above a potted plant to give it something to climb. (Something that’s not your wall, that is. Pothos parents—if you know, you know).

This is a great option for a boho- or beachy-styled home. It’s lightweight and relatively portable.

If you wanted to, you could hook a few baskets or pots over the rungs to hold plants like the Satsuma Plant Ladder. You can also place a vine on a nearby shelf and let it trail over and up the rope ladder or place a large potted plant on the floor at the foot of the rope ladder.
Price: $78.99

• It’s lightweight
• It’s versatile
• It fits well with bohemian and beachy decor

• This is definitely on the expensive side
• You’ll have to remove the ladder from your wall and reattach it somewhere else if you want to move your plant

It’s surprisingly challenging to find sturdy, ladder-style trellises that are also modular, which is why I think The Ecologist is such a rare score—and it also happens to be adorable!

I love that this is styled like two parallel stalks of bamboo without compromising its functional ladder structure. It’s made of eco-friendly bamboo, including the connectors, which allow the trellis to expand as your plant grows.
I think that this would look best supporting a vining plant, but you could also fasten a top-heavy plant to it for support. Unfortunately, unlike my Climber trellis, you’ll most likely have a hard time getting the stem of a taller “tree-like” plant through the holes to use this as fastener-free support.
Price: Base: $29.99 | Extension: $24.99 | Kit: $49.99

• It grows as your plant grows—and you can purchase and attach as many extensions as you need 
• It’s made from sturdy, sustainable bamboo with rubber-tipped stakes

• The holes are a bit too small to weave some plants through, though you can still attach them with clips or twine

This a-frame ladder is an excellent way to display multiple plants, and it will mesh well with both industrial and rustic decor styles. It’s thoughtfully designed, with raised lips on all of the “steps” to catch any drips or runoff that may occur when you water your plants.

It’s water-resistant and can be used indoors or outdoors—I think it would look especially cute in a potting shed or greenhouse.
Price: $249.95

• Works for both indoor and outdoor use
• Made from durable galvanized steel

• This is the most expensive ladder on this list
• It has a larger footprint than the straight-style or hanging ladders

This plant stand might actually qualify more as “plant stairs” rather than a “plant ladder,” but I couldn’t resist including it—we’re thinking a bit outside the box here. This is another one that’s more of a shelf for your plants rather than a trellis, but I could see letting your vines cascade and climb over the metal supports.

This is definitely a furniture piece and will take up a much larger footprint in your home, but I like that you can use it for multiple plants. You can even style it with other knick knacks as well.

I love that this gives you multiple options to display your potted and hanging plants, with different levels of shelves and hooks, and the open design is perfect for climbing vines.
Price: $159.99

• The fact that this is a full shelf makes it very versatile
• I love the hooks for hanging plants

• Not technically a “plant ladder.” It’s more of an alternative to a plant ladder
• More expensive than most of the other items on this list, but that’s understandable since it is a furniture piece

Wooden plant ladders are durable but are best for indoor use only. You may also want to seal them to prevent them from rotting due to prolonged contact with moist soil.

Different styles of plant ladders work better with different types of plants. Straight or hanging ladders are great for vining plants, whereas a-frame ladders look best with several smaller, potted plants on them.

Plant ladders are a great way to maximize space in your home by allowing you to utilize vertical space for your plants. They also give vining plants something to climb, which encourages growth by allowing for better support, airflow, and light absorption

Each of the plant ladders on this list has its own unique benefits, from the eco-friendly and sturdy designs to the visually appealing and multifunctional options. When choosing the best plant ladder for your home, consider your specific needs, the types of plants you have, and your personal style. I’m confident that you’ll find a plant ladder on this list that suits your needs—whether you opt for a versatile ladder-style trellis like The Climber, a rustic vintage-look ladder, or a space-saving rope ladder.