Customize a hanging basket of houseplants, succulents or edible plants to match your style and space. There’s a hanging basket for everyone, regardless of sunlight, style or skill level. Hanging baskets provide you with beauty, privacy and shade, regain space on the floor and spice up a front porch like nobody’s business.
But while pom-poms of petunias and Boston ferns have stood the test of time, they aren’t necessarily much to get excited about.
Instead, produce a hanging garden of your own design by selecting interesting plants with a creeping, spreading or trailing habit. Anything that hang are fair game, but avoid plants that become too rampant, heavy or thirsty for the confines with their little nest.
Hanging Baskets 40 Great Plants to choose from
Houseplants for hanging baskets
Starting off the list are these happening houseplants. Some happened to happen decades ago (like the spider plant), others are enjoying a comeback (Tahitian bridal veil), yet still others are only now becoming more popular: Mistletoe cactus, turtle vine, peperomia, ‘rain of coins’ (sounds painful), and other oddities from the rainforests are not only in fashion, but quite tolerant of neglect.
Asian pitcher plant is definitely an exception, though, because it requires both humidity and plenty of soft water to produce its wicked fly-catching pitchers. But who wouldn’t want a hanging carnivorous plant to greet mosquitoes and visitors?
Mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis species)
Tahitian bridal veil (Gibasis geniculata)
White gossamer plant (Tradescantia sillamontana)
Turtle vine (Callisia repens)
Peperomia (Peperomia species)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Coin vine (Dischidia pectinoides)
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Drunkard’s dream (Hatiora salicornioides)
Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera and Hatiora species)
Fireball bromeliad (Neoregelia ‘Fireball’)
Asian pitcher plant (Nepenthes species)
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
Hanging basket plants for shade
A number of the houseplants listed above are excellent fits for warm days in the shade, but these landscape plants offer either flowers (such as fuchsia, walking iris, and begonias) or, in the cases of gold Japanese sedge and creeping Jenny, cold-tolerant foliage.
Many ferns are perfect fits as well, provided they’re drought-tolerant enough to deal with drying winds and forgetfulness. Boston fern is definitely the classic choice, but choose ‘Macho’ fern, ‘Kimberly Queen’ fern and other relatives for a twist on an old favorite.
Fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrids)
Gold Japanese sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’)
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera)
Kangaroo paw fern (Microsorum diversifolium)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis hybrids)
Walking iris (Neomarica species)
Edibles for hanging baskets
If you were to picture a lifetime of leisure, you may imagine lounging around while someone feeds you grapes. While grapes are far too rambunctious and needy for hanging baskets, strawberries are about as good as it gets. The berries naturally hang over the sides of the baskets, which makes them easy pickings at the conclusion of a hot day while in the garden.
Tomatoes are the next best thing, but go with a dwarf variety like ‘Micro Tom’ that won’t outgrow its space. If you’re a home chef with only a little space, try growing herbs in baskets as well; no more stooping over in the dirt to collect your ingredients!
Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa)
Mint (Mentha species)
Thyme (Thymus species)
Prostrate rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)
Tomato (‘Tumbling Tom’ and ‘Tumbler F1’)
Hanging basket plants for sun
Have a sunny south-, east- or west-facing balcony and don’t mind watering regularly? Your best houseplants could possibly have burned to a crisp with all of that direct sunlight, but so what? You get to grow flowers, and lots of them.
Remove the corpse of the Boston fern, dirt and all, replace with fresh potting mix, sprinkle a few vining flower seeds (moonflower, morning glory, black-eyed Susan vine and cardinal climber will do nicely), water them daily and keep an eye on your balcony: It could possibly soon be smothered with blooms.
Morning glory (Ipomoea alba)
Moonflower (Ipomoea tricolor)
Cardinal climber (Ipomoea x multifida)
Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata)
Portulaca (Portulaca species)
Ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas hybrids)
‘Wave’ and ‘Supertunia’ petunias
‘Snow Princess’ alyssum
Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis)
Trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
Ice plant (Delosperma species)
Succulents for hanging baskets
If you have a south-, east- or west-facing balcony and occasionally wander out to find dead plants you forgot were even there, then these tough and drought-tolerant hanging succulents would be the best option.
Burro’s tail sedum (Sedum morganianum)
String of bananas (Senecio radicans glauca)
Starfish plant (Stapelia or Huernia species)
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
With so many great options, the most difficult part of creating your hanging baskets could possibly be figuring out your choices. Now if you are need of a porch or lanai for all your plants, Nick & Cindy Davis can assist you. We help buyers find their dream home in the Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. We can always be reached by simply clicking here or you can always reach us at 813-300-7116.