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Best plants for hanging baskets


Top 10 Hanging Basket Plants

There's nothing quite as captivating as a well-kept entrance flanked by a pair of exuberantly overflowing hanging baskets. Filled with colour, texture and scent, baskets are a great way to brighten up sheds, garages, fences and patios. Once you’ve chosen from the wide range of hanging basket hardware available, it’s really easy to order trays of annual bedding plants and create colourful themed displays. And if you prefer perennials, there are plenty of options for long-lasting interest. 

Here are ten of our favourite hanging basket plants to help you make a real statement:

  1. Begonia x tuberhybrida
  2. Fuchsias
  3. Petunias
  4. Bacopa
  5. Lobelia
  6. Calibrachoa
  7. Geraniums (Pelargoniums)
  8. Osteospermum
  9. Nasturtiums
  10. Verbena

Read on to find out why each of these plants won a place in our coveted top ten, or browse our full range of basket and container annuals for even more choice.

Begonia x tuberhybrida varieties produce huge flowers
Image: Pre-planted Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Apricot Shade Improved' basket from Thompson & Morgan

Begonia x tuberhybrida plants are shade tolerant, so a great basket choice for the darker side of the house. These Begonias produce huge blooms, often with exciting double rows of petals and impressive picotee detailing. Fill your basket with Begonia x tuberhybrida plug plants and hang it under cover for a week or two to allow your plants to establish. These Begonias bloom in any weather throughout summer.

Go for Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Non-stop Mocca’ for its lovely dark foliage and different coloured blooms or choose Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Majestic Mixed’ for giant double blooms that reach up to 20cm across. 

Garden-ready option: Pre-planted Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Apricot Shade Improved’ basket.

New Fuchsia 'Eruption' is the perfect hanging basket perennial
Image: Fuchsia 'Eruption' from Thompson & Morgan

Fuchsias make fantastic hanging basket plants! In fact, compact trailing varieties display their huge blooms to best advantage from below. Excellent value for money, these semi-hardy perennials provide an extravagant show for many years, provided they’re overwintered in a frost-free place. 

Try Fuchsia Giant-Flowered Collection with blooms up to 10cm across, or Fuchsia ‘Eruption’ for a dramatic blaze of slender, fiery pink flowers from trailing stems. 

Garden-ready option: Pre-planted Fuchsia ‘Trailing Mixed’ basket.

Petunia 'Amore™ Queen of Hearts' flowers throughout the summer
Image: Petunia 'Amore™ Queen of Hearts' from Thompson & Morgan

Petunias have it all - large blooms, a lovely scent, lush foliage and a fantastic mix of trailing and compact habits. With bold block colours and fun picotee flowers, Petunias put on a fantastic show in hanging baskets all throughout the summer. 

Petunia 'Back to Black’ is a new variety with striking, velvety black blooms that reach a height and spread of 30cm. For something brighter, try the extra special Petunia 'Amore™ Queen of Hearts' which features five clear red love hearts against a background of pure yellow.  

Garden-ready option: Pre-planted petunia 'Frills & Spills™ Mixed’ pre-planted basket

Bacopa is a great addition to hanging baskets for softening displays
Image: Bacopa 'Snowtopia' from Thompson & Morgan

Bacopa is a valuable plant in hanging baskets. It’s easy to grow and the flower-covered stems trail down to well over 45cm. These dainty, yet incredibly tough plants are the perfect way to add volume to colour-themed baskets or mixed displays. 

Go for Bacopa 'Baristo® Pink' for delicate pastel pink blooms or Bacopa 'Baristo® Blue' for baby blue. Our favourite for hanging baskets is classic white - Bacopa ‘Snowflake’ can be combined with any other coloured flower or planted alone for an unusual and elegant display.

Lobelia is an impressive annual that produces airy foliage and clouds of delicate flowers in white, pink or blue during the summer months. A great way to fill out mixed baskets, these versatile blooms provide the perfect backdrop to other bedding plants.  

For a dazzling cascade of violet-blue flowers, try Lobelia 'Monsoon'. And for a slightly more compact variety, Lobelia ‘White Lady’ produces pretty white flowers that spread to 20cm, ideal for planting around the edge or underside of a basket.

Calibrachoa Calita 'Million Bells Red' is extremely fast-growing
Image: Calibrachoa 'Million Bells Red' from Thompson & Morgan

These ‘miniature petunias’ are prolific bloomers, producing a long-lasting display in a glorious range of colours. Calibrachoa are vigorous, weather-proof and grow well in sun or shade, making them an ideal choice for trickier parts of the garden. They don't even need dead-heading - they literally look after themselves! 

For a bold hanging basket display, go for Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells Red’ which produces clouds of scarlet flowers. And for a fun kaleidoscope of summer colour, try Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells Mix’ which, as its name suggests, contains a mixture of our popular ‘Million Bells’ series in mauve, yellow, white and pink.  

Geranium 'GeRainbow Mixed' provides a classic combination of complementary coloured blooms
Image: Geranium 'GeRainbow Mixed' from Thompson & Morgan

Geraniums are classic bedding plants for a reason. Drought tolerant and tough, these tender perennials will flower again the following year if protected from frost. Available in a wide range of colours from fiery reds to delicate pastels, the variety of leaf shapes and scents are another reason they’re such a popular choice.

Geranium 'Best Red' F1 Hybrid is an upright variety with eye-catching red blooms that evoke hot Mediterranean summers. For a softer look, try trailing ivy-leaf geranium 'GeRainbow Mixed'. The plants in this mix cascade down to 90cm, showcasing dark green, ivy-shaped leaves and large clusters of flowers from June to October. For something a little different, our geranium 'Rosebud Collection' features thicker double blooms, trailing down to at least 45cm, which open just like miniature rosebuds.

Garden-ready option: pre-planted geranium 'Balcon Mix' basket.

Osteospermum 'Purple Sun' was shortlisted for Chelsea Plant of the Year 2019
Image: Osteospermum 'Purple Sun' from Thompson & Morgan

Naturally drought tolerant, Osteospermums (or African daisies) are tough plants that love sunny, south-facing positions. Forming attractive balls of colour, newer varieties have been bred with a trailing habit, making them ideal for hanging baskets. 

Osteospermum ‘Falling Stars™' is the first cascading African daisy, trailing to 45cm. A mix of three different and vivid colours, these bright blooms have excellent staying power in summer hanging baskets. Reaching a height of 30cm, Osteospermum ‘Purple Sun’ makes another vibrant choice for your baskets. Smothering the dark green foliage from June to October, it’s no surprise that these bright blooms were shortlisted for Chelsea Plant of the Year in 2019. 

Nasturtium 'Troika Spotty Dotty' trails up to 100cm
Image: Nasturtium 'Troika Spotty Dotty' from Thompson & Morgan

If you like to sow your own flower seeds rather than buying plugs or plants, nasturtiums are an excellent choice. From sowing to flowering takes about three months. Although orange is one of the best known colours, nasturtiums come in a wide range of hues from creamy white through to deep maroon. 

For a compact display, go for nasturtium ‘Chameleon'. Not only do the flowers look like exotic orchids, they also change colour every few days! Nasturtium 'Troika Spotty Dotty' and Nasturtium majus 'Orange Troika' both trail down to over 1m long, producing masses of golden yellow and orange blooms with striking red flashes inside. 

Verbena plants produce compact brightly coloured blooms
Image: Verbena 'Quartz Mixed' from Thompson & Morgan

Add Verbena to your hanging baskets for trailing foliage with gorgeous colour. These totally carefree, easy to grow plants provide a stunning mix of shades. Gently spilling over the edge of your basket, they tend to have a more compact growing habit, spreading to about 20-30cm. They also show excellent resistance to mildew.

Go for Verbena 'Quartz Mixed' if you’re looking for a loud mix of bright colours. For something more subtle, or to complement a mixed basket scheme, try the elegant blush pink and white flowers of Verbena ‘Samira Pink Wing’.

How to plant a hanging basket video

This helpful video provides a step-by-step guide to planting up a hanging basket. Get your plants off to the best start by using the right compost, and positioning your plants to show them off to their best. These frequently asked questions provide some good pointers:

Which plants are best for a hanging basket?

Trailing plants like petunias, verbena and calibrachoa are best for planting your hanging basket. They cascade over the basket sides, where their flowers can be easily seen from below.

When can I put my hanging basket outside?

Put your hanging basket outside after the last frost date. This may be early May for those in the South, or late May for gardeners in the far north of the UK.

What should I do with my hanging basket after summer?

After summer, empty your hanging basket of annual plants and dispose of them. Move tender perennial hanging basket displays into a sheltered place to overwinter before the first frosts arrive. With a little luck, they should flower again the following year.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our top ten hanging basket plants. Share your fabulous hanging display with us via Twitter or Instagram, using #MyTMGarden. For even more information and advice, head to our hanging basket hub page.

Best plants for hanging baskets: 17 stunning ideas

(Image credit: Suntory Flowers)

When choosing the best plants for hanging baskets, embrace the opportunity to get creative with color and texture.

Hanging baskets are some of the most eye-catching garden ideas, and are vital for adding interest to the vertical plane as part of your container gardening ideas.  

As well as brightening up walls and fences, they make fantastic pergola ideas, and create a striking first impression at the front of a house, so be sure to include them in your front garden ideas too.

'In outdoor spaces, hanging baskets can add to a welcoming curb appeal or beautify a patio or entertaining area. Indoors, they can even improve the air quality and step up your home décor by bringing the outdoors in,' says Rebecca Sears, chief gardening guru for heritage seed and plant brand Ferry Morse . 

'One of the many delightful characteristics of hanging baskets is that you can move them around, playing with sun exposure and balancing the different colors and décor in your space. 

'Many of the options out there will have a long season of bloom, ensuring vibrant color for several months of the year.'

Make sure you know how to plant a hanging basket to get the best out of them.

(Image credit: Pelargonium for Europe)

How to choose the best plants for hanging baskets

'A good rule of thumb when selecting the best plants for hanging baskets is to include a thriller, a filler, and a spiller,' says Lisa Whittlesey, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist for horticulture.  

'Finding plants that fall into these three categories will create lovely hanging baskets that are sure to be the envy of all your neighbors.'

Thriller plants are the real standouts of your hanging baskets, often adding height and drawing the eye. 'Think about large and colorful blooms,' says Whittlesey.

As their name suggests, filler plants will help to fill in your hanging basket, and are often more low-key. Go for foliage plants, or mists of dainty blooms.

Finally, spiller plants such as vines trail or tumble over the edge of the hanging basket. 'The spillers add drama and size to the basket,' adds Whittlsey. Choose the best trailing plants for hanging baskets.

'It is good to consider plants that are adapted to your climate and have similar light and water requirements. This will ensure that your thrillers, fillers, and spillers will be happy together in their hanging basket home.'

However, don't be afraid to plant up a hanging basket with just one beautiful variety, which can make a striking feature.

Bear in mind that hanging baskets need not just be reserved for the summer. As well as evergreen plants, there are some beautiful winter hanging basket ideas to add vibrancy in the darkest months of the year.

Perennial plants for hanging baskets

Perennials are the best plants for hanging baskets if you want containers that will last for several years, rather than having to plant up new ones every year.

Bear in mind that some perennials will not cope with frost, so you will need to bring these varieties indoors over winter if you want them to keep coming back.

1. Geraniums

(Image credit: Pelargonium for Europe)

Geraniums are hugely popular hanging basket plants, and for good reason. 

‘Available in a wide variety of colors to satisfy any palette, they are go-to plants for adding vibrancy and are capable of providing multi-season blooms when given enough sun, water and fertilizer,’ says Ryan Benoit, founder of hanging basket system SkyPots .  

Geraniums are hardy perennials, and are a good choice for low-maintenance hanging baskets. They are closely related to pelargoniums, which are also popular for hanging baskets, although they are more tender, so grown as annuals.

Sears particularly favors ivy leaf geraniums for hanging baskets.

‘The Mini Cascade ivy geranium is an easy-to-grow option that requires minimal work and boasts a stunning display of bright color,’ she says. 

‘These ivy leaf geraniums grow best in full sun and feature an abundance of single flowers with small green leaves that gently cascade over the edge of hanging baskets, filling them out beautifully.’

If you have a sunny window that receives plenty of light, geraniums also make wonderful indoor plants.

Learn how to overwinter geraniums to keep them blooming year after year.

2. Fuchsias

(Image credit: Future)

‘Fuchsias make excellent hanging flower baskets,’ says Marjory Wildcraft, founder of The Grow Network .  

‘They are tough, not requiring much attention at all to grow to their full potential and easily fill a basket. They’re also beautiful, exotic-looking flowers that can brighten up any room or balcony.’

One of the main benefits of fuchsias is that they are perennials, meaning they will last for multiple seasons.

However, they are only half-hardy, so in cold climates will need you will need to know how to overwinter fuchsias. ’As long as you keep them out of frost during the offseason, they will grow back again the following year,’ says Wildcraft.

3. Erigeron karvinskianus

(Image credit: Sarah Raven)

A daisy-like perennial flower, erigeron karvinskianus is also a prolific self-seeder – but this is rarely a problem, as plantswoman Sarah Raven explains: ‘It just behaves in a really lovely discreet and pretty way, and you get these clouds of daisy flowers.’

The plant makes a charming addition to pots and borders – perfect for your cottage garden ideas – and makes for the most romantic hanging baskets.

‘If it gets a bit tired, give it a haircut and it springs back into life and flowers immediately again,’ adds Raven.

4. Calibrachoa

(Image credit: Suntory Flowers)

‘A miniature variety of petunia often known as million bells, these lush flowering basket plants are very much in vogue,’ says Nikita, founder of Mit City Farm .

‘Calibrachoa endure summer drizzles easily and grow well in both sun and shade, hence they are ideal for livening up dull areas.’

While Calibrachoa are perennials, they are tender, so you will need to overwinter them in a greenhouse or conservatory unless you live in a warmer area. However, they are hardy in USDA zones 9-11, and often survive cutting back and mulching to overwinter them in zones 7 and 8.

'Mini Rosebud Romantic Peachy is a variety with exquisite flowers of peach and pink, or for a multi-hued splash of colors, Minitunia Kabloom Mixed is also a great choice, bursting with colors during the summer,’ adds Nikita.

5. Dianthus

(Image credit: Future)

Also known as pinks, these blousy flowers are surprisingly hardy perennials – though they are short-lived, needing replacing after a few years. Luckily, they are easy to propagate from cuttings.

Perhaps what is most appealing about dianthus is its delightful scent. ‘The extremely fragrant dainty dianthus is reminiscent of spicy cloves and vanilla,’ says Period Living’s gardening expert Leigh Clapp.

Grow dianthus in full sun or partial shade, and cut back in the fall.

Best plants for hanging baskets in full sun

'One important point to consider is how much sun your hanging basket will receive as some plants will grow best in full sun, while others may still be able to thrive in partial sun,' says Spears.

Sun-loving hanging basket plants are often particularly vibrant, and many are tolerant of heat and drought.

1. Petunias

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘Petunias are a great choice for hanging baskets,’ says Wildcraft. ‘Aesthetically, they offer simple, minimalist beauty, normally available in only single or double color schemes. The way the plant hangs keeps tons of flowers on display – there's no wasted flora here.’

Sears especially rates Easy Wave spreading petunias. 'They offer eye-catching color in a full, lush and mound-forming display. ‘Spreading’ is in its name for good reason too – these petunias spread and trail very fast in baskets and landscapes that receive full sun, creating that ‘wave’ effect of showstopping color.’

Petunias are fairly easy to care for, but they really do need lots of sun in order to thrive. They do well in periods of heat and drought. 

Make sure you know how to deadhead petunias to maximize blooms.

2. Osteospermum

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Offering colorful daisy-like blooms from summer through fall, osteospermums make a fantastic addition to hanging baskets. They come in a wide range of colors, and are also attractive to pollinators.

As tender perennials native to Africa and the Middle East, osteospermums will die over winter in colder climates, but you can take cuttings to grow them on the following year.

Deadhead regularly to prolong the flowering time.

3. Verbena

(Image credit: Alamy)

Verbena is a classic choice for hanging baskets, and comes in a range of colors, most notably pinks and purples.

Choose from upright verbenas to make an impactful ‘thriller’ plant in your hanging basket display, or choose a trailing variety to spill over the sides.

Bear in mind that verbena needs full sun for much of the day in order to thrive. 

4. Begonias

(Image credit: Alamy)

Available in a wide choice of colors, begonias are popular flowers for hanging baskets, and they will bloom all season long.

‘Begonias give a full, drooping effect to your hanging baskets,’ says Nikita. ‘With big blousy blooms that trail from the thick stems, begonia x tuberhybrida are one of the most popular hanging plants. Easy to grow, they will provide you a full season of color.

‘I really like Apricot Shades Improved, a variety of begonia that trails down over 18 inches and will keep on blooming in any weather so that shades of apricot and lemon are always there, even on cloudy days.’

If you know how to overwinter begonias, they will flower again next year.

5. Sweet alyssum

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Used on its own, sweet alyssum creates a frothy, romantic cloud in a hanging basket, but it can also be used to soften the edges of other plants in a mixed display.

‘Sweet alyssum has lovely small white or purple tiny blooms and is extremely fragrant,’ says Whittlesey.

Though the plants are generally tough and easy to grow, they are not frost hardy, so are usually grown as an annual.

Best plants for hanging baskets in shade

Often seen as a negative, shade actually presents a wonderful opportunity to plant more unusual varieties that would not thrive in full sun.

Many shade-loving plants are also evergreen, and provide interest and texture through their foliage year round.

1. Ferns

(Image credit: Future)

‘Most fern species feel right at home in a hanging basket,’ says Victoria Kuchinskaya, resident plant physiologist for leading plant identification app NatureID . 

‘These plants are a great option for shaded and indirectly lit locations, as they don’t need much sunlight to thrive.’

Ferns make for lovely outdoor hanging baskets, but can also make lush houseplants too. ‘Make sure to mist them generously or place them in a kitchen or bathroom to keep their foliage healthy.’

Benoit particularly favors Boston ferns. ‘They provide punches of green beneath your eaves or along edges of your patio,’ he says.

’To keep your Boston ferns happy and green, hang them out of direct sunlight and keep soil moist with regular waterings.’

2. Heuchera

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As an evergreen perennial foliage plant, heuchera adds vibrancy and texture to hanging baskets year round, and makes a wonderful foil for flowers.

Native to woodlands, heuchera thrives in light shade, and its foliage comes in a huge range of colors, from silver to deepest bronze. The plants also produce small flowers in the summer.

Remove spent leaves in the fall to keep them looking their best, and water and feed regularly during the summer.

3. Bacopa

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Bacopa is a dainty flower that thrives in part shade – and dislikes strong afternoon sun.

The plants have a gentle trailing effect, and from summer to fall will be covered with blooms.

They are generally low-maintenance – deadheading isn't necessary but will help improve flowering.

Keep the soil moist, but don't overwater.

4. Kokedama orchid

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you’re after more unusual plants for hanging baskets, then consider the traditional Japanese art of kokedama, which is making a resurgence. 

‘Kokedama is the practice of taking the roots of the plant and suspending them in a ball of sphagnum moss, which is then wrapped with a soft moss such as sheet moss,’ says Paige Harmon of Westerlay Orchids .

‘It is a living planter that has a very natural feel to it. It makes a distinctive display piece which can be hung either indoors or outdoors, depending on the plant. 

‘Orchids make the most beautiful kokedama but there are many plants that can be used and look amazing as well.’

Best low maintenance outdoor hanging plants

'When you’re choosing what to put in hanging baskets, consider how much effort you are willing to put into maintaining the plant you choose – some are more finicky than others,' says Wildcraft.

Happily, there are several standout choices for hanging baskets that will thrive even if you only have minimal time to spend on them.

1. Pansies

(Image credit: Future)

'Pansies are tried and true hanging basket favorites that come in both solid colors or multi color blooms, ranging from yellow, white, burgundy, blues and purple,' says Whittlesey.

These cheerful blooms provide color in some of the bleakest months of the year, when there is often little joy to be found elsewhere in the garden. This makes them one of the best plants for winter pots and borders.

It's a good idea to occasionally deadhead pansies to maximize their flowering period, but they will grow well with very little intervention.

2. Golden pothos

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Also known as devil’s ivy, golden pothos is a low-maintenance foliage plant suitable for either indoor or outdoor hanging baskets. 

‘It has low light requirements, and is most known for thriving in conditions other plants wouldn’t survive, making it an especially perfect plant for beginners,’ says Spears.

‘Another remarkable characteristic of this plant is that it defines fast growing as it can grow an astonishing 12 inches a month!’

Founder of Loop Living, Eli Manekin is also a big fan of golden pothos for hanging baskets. ‘I love devil's ivy. It has beautiful white swirls on its bright green leaves, and the more light it's exposed to, the more these white streaks will be noticeable,' he says.

‘It’s really hard to kill – even for those people who are self-proclaimed 'black thumbs.' Don't be tempted to overwater it, instead take your cue from the plant itself. Wait until the leaves are soft and droopy – that's when it needs to be watered.

'If you accidentally kill it, don't worry! Just cut off the stems and keep going. More often than not it will start growing again.’

3. String of pearls

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Though often used as a trailing house plant, string of pearls makes for a striking hanging basket plant outdoors too. 

‘For very bright direct light, a string of pearls works wonderfully. These jewel-like plants thrive outside, or for indoors look for a spot in your home where the light casts harsh shadows, as this is the brightest light,’ says Manekin.

A string of pearls does not need a lot of water, so make sure to water them only when they are fully dry. 

‘In late spring, the plant will fill the air with the cinnamon-like smell of its delicate white flowers,’ adds Kuchinskaya.

‘Be careful if you have pets or children, however, as this plant’s sap is known to be poisonous.’

What flowers last the longest in a hanging basket?

There are many fabulous flowers that last all summer in a hanging basket, with some enduring into the fall.

Some of the best to consider include calibrachoa, erigeron karvinskianus, fuchsias, geraniums and osteospermums.

When should you start hanging baskets?

When planting summer hanging baskets, start them off early in the spring, to give the plants enough time to establish. 

However, you will need to keep them in a greenhouse or conservatory until the frosts have passed.

If you don't have anywhere suitable to keep them undercover, then plant your hanging baskets in mid to late spring, after the frosts have passed.

Winter hanging baskets can be planted early in the fall.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

Hanging gardens: 10 unpretentious hanging plants

1. Asplenium nest or Kostenets

Kostenets has unusual green petals with a wavy edge. It can grow anywhere, but it's best to keep it out of direct sunlight and water it once a week.

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feey/Unsplash

2. Tillandsia

If you love exotic plants, then Tillandsia will definitely appeal to you. They can be easily hung up, they are unpretentious in care, because they do not require soil and a lot of water. nine0005

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3. Common ivy

Ivy is perhaps the most famous hanging plant that can easily refresh any interior. To keep it evergreen and grow more, don't forget to spray it with water every week, and keep a close eye on moisture levels in winter.

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Véronique Trudel/Unsplash

This type of hanging plant thrives in humid environments, so the bathroom is the perfect place for it. nine0005

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Unknown Wong/Unsplash

5.

Epipremnum aureus

This climbing plant is ideal for hanging in a pot or basket. Find him a medium to low lit corner with indirect light, water once every 1-2 weeks, and he will delight the eye with his beautiful vines for a long time.

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Taylor Heery/Unsplash

6. Eucalyptus

Make your home cozy with the fresh smell of eucalyptus. You can hang the stems from thin wooden branches in the bedroom or bathroom, as in the photo below. nine0005

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homestolove

7. Tillandsia xerographic

This amazing ornamental plant is beautiful in itself. It grows without support, so it is enough to hang it on a twine or ribbon and soak it in water once a week.

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feey/Unsplash

8.

philodendron

Everyone seems to know the philodendron. Its heart-shaped leaves and docile nature make it an ideal houseplant. It requires medium to low indirect light and watering every 1-2 weeks. nine0005

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Sarah Bronske/Unsplash

9. Spotted Scindapsus

Spotted Scindapsus distinctly resembles Silver Philodendron - it has the same leaves with light spots. This plant is also great for hanging under indirect light because it only needs to be watered once a week.

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feey/Unsplash

10. Kokedama

Kokedama literally translates from Japanese as "moss ball". Some consider it a kind of bonsai. If you want to add zest to the interior, take a closer look at this plant. Just remember to wash it once a week with room temperature water. nine0005

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thesill

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selection of plants and flowers for the balcony, their arrangement

Plants grown in a hanging container. German Ampel means hanging vase. Increasingly, this method of gardening is found on balconies, verandas, and gardens. A hanging basket with flowers saves space, makes the flower arrangement noticeable from any angle and just looks very beautiful and festive. nine0005

Content

Which plants are suitable for ampelous cultivation

For hanging choose colorful plants that bloom beautifully or have long shoots hanging from the pot. Nasturtium or petunias have this property to some extent. And viola, snapdragon and pelargonium (geranium) are not curly or drooping, but colorful and meet all the requirements of ampelous floriculture. Either way, all varieties are very suitable for decorative purposes when grown in hanging baskets. Nowadays, even small shrubs are used for planting in a hanging vase. nine0005

The most popular and well-known plants for cultivation are listed in the following list.

  1. Petunia is distinguished by a variety of colors, long flowering throughout the summer, and ease of care.
  2. Pelargonium (geranium) is a popular plant. Its conditions are warm and sunny, watering is not too plentiful, it tolerates drought.
  3. Ampel begonia prefers a sunny place. In such conditions, it is most beautiful, blooming red flowers on long stems. The rest is not very demanding to care. nine0107
  4. Verbena is also easy to maintain and blooms for a long time. It grows well on loosened fertile soil, loves the sun.
  5. Campanula belongs to the Campanula family, has stems over 20 centimeters, hanging down. The flowers are white, light blue or slightly purple in color. The plant blooms very profusely and looks beautiful at the same time. A composition of two flowerpots with white and blue flowers is called "bride and groom". Hang on the window - as close as possible to natural light. But it does not tolerate strong sunlight. nine0107
  6. Ampel fuchsia is an indoor beautiful flowering perennial plant. Graceful white-pink or purple flowers appear in autumn. Prefers moist soil, but not excessively. It is not recommended to expose it to direct sunlight.
  7. Viola - "pansies" is distinguished by pleasant-looking flowers with a rich and varied color, very decorative. There are special ampel varieties of this plant.

In addition to the above, in this type of floral design, hanging flowers for planters are widely used, the names of which are less known. nine0005

The fact that some ampelous plants are not known to everyone does not diminish the importance of such a culture in decoration.

How to choose the right plants for your garden

Flowers or plants of the same species look great in a hanging planter. But you can plant two or more species in one basket. Then it will be possible to combine plants and make whole compositions. Plants are distinguished by species and growing conditions.

We list the ampelous plants for the garden. Their names, depending on the method of cultivation, are as follows. nine0005

If they were transferred to the garden for the summer period, and usually winter in a room, then these are perennials: pelargonium, begonia.

Both plants can or should be placed in shaded areas.

Garden annuals should be sown in early spring or take ready-made seedlings.

Ampelous flowers for the garden, the names of which were not listed, these are also viola, nasturtium, balsam, nolana, diasia, bindweed, scaevola.

Hanging flower vases are easy to move to a new place, creating a new look for an old garden landscape. Dull or boring areas are enlivened with planters. When used outdoors, annual flowering plants are often used. They grow quickly, requiring only the simplest rules of care. So, for example, plants that love moisture and are resistant to drought are not planted in one pot. And also light-loving and shade-loving. nine0005

Balcony plants

In the interior, indoor plant species are used for ampel cultivation. In the summer, they can be moved to the balcony, veranda. These are begonia, fuchsia, campanula, geranium, the perennials listed earlier. For a colorful and colorful decoration of the balcony, petunia, nasturtium and other annuals are sown. Sowing is done in a pot with soil or a balcony box. A hanging vase is convenient in that it can be moved from place to place, changing the look of the veranda. Just like in the garden, from petunia, lubelia and surfinia, they make flowering balls or cascades on terraces and balconies. Balcony boxes should be well fixed or stably placed. nine0005

Plants for hanging pots

Equal-leaved campanula, fuchsia, ampelous begonia are well known to lovers of indoor plants. When hung out on balconies and verandas in the summer, these chic representatives should still receive proper care . It is necessary to loosen and moisten the soil, protect from direct sunlight, acting for a long time. For long-term flowering of Campanula, wilted flowers are removed in time.

Outdoors in summer, annuals are used: petunia, snapdragon, viola, especially climbing varieties, nasturtium. These plants can be planted without being combined with other plants. The compositions are made up of geraniums and petunias. Begonia and fuchsia are combined with lubelia. Petunia is complemented by verbena or dichondra. nine0005

How to arrange hanging plants

Ways to decorate the area with hanging plants and flowers are subject to the rules of .

  1. The location of the vases should not interfere with movement.
  2. The interior or space of the garden is updated by changing the places of the pots.
  3. The Hanging Plant Container can be placed on stands or fixed on a balcony, but in a stable manner using a secure fit.
  4. Old things are used to create compositions: movable or broken carts, bicycles, hanging kettles. It gives things a second life and makes the garden interesting. nine0107

Observing the general rules, you need to consider where this or that crop grows best: in the light or in the shade. Consider drought tolerance when regular maintenance is not possible, wind resistance . First of all, you should be interested in these parameters in order to extend the life of the ampel "masterpieces".

Ampelous nasturtium

Nasturtium is distinguished by its decorative originality, having flowers of the original form with coloring in red and yellow shades. Flowering is pleasantly complemented by contrasting leaves. Nasturtium does not grow in the room and is an annual garden plant . Many flower growers have paid attention to its diversity, willingly cultivate it. Depending on the variety, nasturtium is more or less climbing, often winding, or vice versa, similar to a grassy bush.

Although this flower requires sufficient sun, it can also live in partial shade. Often grown in garden vases, it also looks elegant in hanging vases.

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