Architectural detail: Vertical victory garden?

I've always had mixed feelings about planted walls.  When I see them in professional photos, they look incredible: lush, textured and wild.  But then I think back to the few times I've seen them in person: brown, rotting and bare.

A few years ago, we had a long layover in Paris so we went to visit the Musee du quai Branly, which was one of the first projects I remember with a garden wall.  Previously, I had seen the project featured in Architectural Record and I had high hopes for it.

[Musee du quai Branly featured in Architectural Record]

This is what we saw:

[Musee du quai Branly]

I was so disappointed I wanted to cry.  Especially when we walked around Paris some more and saw several ivy-covered walls that were lush and green and (I'm guessing) low-maintenance.

Anyway, judging from how frequently I see them featured in magazines and blogs, planted walls are only growing more popular.  Perhaps the plants selected for these vertical gardens are more hardy and suited for low-soil growth?  With that in mind, I was particularly taken with this image:

[Frederico Valsassina Architects via freshome]

It seems so much more manageable in a residential setting.  Assuming the plants could be this healthy, I think this detail would be great for a house with limited planting space, or a long driveway.  And if you're adverse to windows in the front facade for privacy reasons, this green wall would provide texture and detail without having to resort to windows.

My main question, though, is if there are edible plants that grow well on walls.  Imagine it: a front-yard garden that's artwork, would never contain dog poop, and no hunched-over tending.