Flowering plants for hanging pots
18 Best Hanging Plants for Indoors and Out | Bob Vila
Getting Started
1/20
Although there are many baskets that are perfect for hanging plants, the rules of container gardening still apply: Use a nutrient-rich soil and be sure to allow for drainage; choose hanging plants that make sense for your climate and for the spot where you plan to leave them; and water often—without much soil to retain water, hanging baskets need vigilance or they'll dry out.
Related: 10 Gardening Mistakes That Are Killing Your Plants
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Supertunia Petunias
2/20
Able to shed its old blooms on its own, this breed of petunia comes in many rich shades and will draw hummingbirds and butterflies to your porch. Available on Amazon; $34.99 for four plants.
Related: 12 Plants That Are Perfect for Window Boxes
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Painted Lady
3/20
Gorgeous two-toned foliage makes these little rosettes excellent, drought-resistant hanging plants for containers. Once established, they can tolerate extended dry periods; they generally flower in the warmer months. Available on Etsy; $4.99 for one plant.
Related: 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden
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Dwarf Lavender
4/20
Any dwarf lavender will add not only its delicate purple shade to a basket but also its soothing scent. These sun-loving hanging plants will thrive near any window—you can't go wrong! Available from Burpee; $12.99 for one plant.
Related: 12 Plants That Will Make Your Garden Smell Great
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Lobelia
5/20
The delicate blooms and exquisite blues, purples, and whites of lobelia make it an excellent choice for everything from garden borders and window boxes to hanging plants perfect for your porch. Lobelia does best in part-shade locations.
Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for pack of four.
Related: 25 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever
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Impatiens
6/20
Although many impatiens are falling prey to downy mildew, by putting making them hanging plants, you can get them out of the ground and out of soil that could harbor the aggressive mold. If you plant them in containers, you can still enjoy the beautiful shades of one of America’s favorite annuals. Try ‘Busy Lizzies’ for their abundant flowers. Available from Burpee; $22.99 for 12 plants.
Related: 10 Fast-Growing Plants for (Almost) Instant Curb Appeal
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Sedum Morganianum
7/20
Commonly known as Donkey’s Tail, this long-trailing succulent with vibrant green leaves will draw instant attention as hanging plants. Best grown in full sunlight with regular, moderate watering throughout the year, except in winter.
Available on Amazon; $18.00 for four cuttings.
Related: 14 Totally Free Ways to Start Your Own Garden
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Chrysanthemum
8/20
A florist favorite, mums bring cold-weather color to your patio as hanging plants. Try ‘Maroon Pride’ for its deep fall shade or the fragrant 'Pink Magnificent.' Available from Etsy; $5.45 per plant.
Related: 8 No-Care Plants for Killer Curb Appeal in Every Season
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Fountain Grass
9/20
Add dimension and texture to your basket with a dwarf fountain grass, such as ‘Red Riding Hood’. Give it full sun, and these low-maintenance hanging plants will reward you with a bountiful shape all year long! Available from The Home Depot; $14.99 for one quart-sized plant.
Related: 10 of the Best Shrubs for Any Garden
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Tradescantia
10/20
Also known as spiderwort, this lovely perennial with long-lasting flowers will spread in the garden but stay perfectly contained in a hanging basket. Delightful! Available from Etsy; $6.50 for 12 spiderwort root systems.
Related: 20 Plants That Survive With or Without You
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Imagination Verbena
11/20
Bright and deep purple-pink, ‘Imagination’ is just one of many verbenas that make perfect hanging plants. Give them full sun and keep the soil moist for best results. Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for pack of four plants.
Related: 15 No-Effort Plants for a Foolproof Landscape
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Trailing Pansies
12/20
Relatively new on the scene after more than a decade of breeding, trailing varieties of pansies do well as hanging plants in baskets and containers.
Spreading larger and having deeper color than older pansy varieties, they are also extremely cold-resistant—surviving sub-zero temperatures. Available from Burpee; $12.99 for pack of four plants.
Related: 14 Long-Lasting Flowers for Your Yard
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Snowtopia
13/20
Bacopa ‘Snowtopia’ has cascading evergreen stems that burst with a profusion of white blossoms from June through September. Favoring sun or semi-shade, it’s an ideal choice for a porch or patio. Available from Etsy; $3.46 for one packet of seeds.
Related: 7 Ways to Buy Yourself a Green Thumb for Under $40
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Fuchsia
14/20
With its showstopping flowers, Fuchsia has been a long-time favorite with gardeners. The brightly colored, lantern-like flowers can attract hummingbirds to your yard and thrive in part to full shade.
These plants need lots of nutrients when producing flowers, so tend fertilize them regularly and deadhead spent flowers to maximize their blooms. Available on Etsy; $7.99 for 15-20 seeds.
Related: These 10 Fascinating Garden Flowers Bloom Only at Night
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Begonias
15/20
Begonias have earned their place as one of the best hanging plants for their showy flowers, free branching habit, and tolerance for heat. Available in a wide range of colors, from yellows, to oranges, to reds and pinks, “non-stop” varieties can give you blooms all year long. Available from Burpee; $23.99 for 12 plants.
Related: The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden
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Calibrachoa
16/20
Calibrachoa is also known as Million Bells for its steady output of tiny petunia-like flowers.
The plant flowers at a rapid rate with colorful cascading blooms. Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for pack of four plants.
Related: Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side
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Sweet Alyssum
17/20
Don’t be fooled by its dainty flowers, Sweet Alyssum grows in abundance. The plant begins producing blooms in mid-spring, provided the weather is warm. Although its blooms are most commonly white, there are special varieties that bursts with deep purple or light pink flowers. Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for a pack of four plants.
Related: 10 Plants to Grow for a Pest-Proof Yard
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Moss Rose
18/20
For a hanging that receives a lot of direct sunlight, Moss Rose is a hardy choice. These colorful flowers may look dainty but they can endure the sun's direct rays even on the brightest of summer days.
Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for a pack of four plants.
Related: 10 Ways to Weather-Proof Your Garden
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Lantana
19/20
Lantana is a hardy plant that can survive in sunny spots, even with little water. This low-maintenance flower draws pollinators to the yard, so if you plant Lantana, expect to see plenty of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds feeding on its nectar. Available from The Home Depot; $34.99 for a pack of four plants.
Related: 10 Flowers That Attract Bees to Your Garden
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Beautiful Baskets
20/20
Whether it's the porch, deck, or even inside the house, these plants will look beautiful in hanging baskets.
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10 Best Flowers for Hanging Baskets
Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds With Hanging Plants
By
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 05/24/22
Reviewed by
Debra LaGattuta
Reviewed by Debra LaGattuta
Debra LaGattuta is a gardening expert with three decades of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening.
She is a Master Gardener and lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
The Spruce
Do you have a favorite garden flower that always seems to have its head in the dirt, especially after a heavy rain? This flower may be the perfect candidate for planting in a hanging basket. Many flowers suitable for hanging baskets are pendulous, top-heavy, or creeping—characteristics that can be a challenge in a garden but perfect for decorative display in a container at eye level or higher.
Plants with tiny or fragrant flowers also benefit from a lofty perch because it maximizes their proximity to our senses. Some hanging basket flowers even attract butterflies or hummingbirds, giving you a close-up view of wildlife antics on your porch, deck, or patio.
Tip
Flowers in containers typically need extra feeding because frequent watering washes away the soil's nutrients.
For many flowering plants, a weekly feeding with half-strength liquid fertilizer keeps them blooming their best.
10 Best Flowers for Hanging Baskets
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01 of 10
strathroy / Getty ImagesFor those who do not have the right climate to grow fussy fuchsias, begonias can act as a plant double. The half-hardy Begonia boliviensis has the same tubular, pendulous flowers as fuchsias, but can handle the heat and humidity of southern summers. Other tuberous begonias that look great in hanging baskets include the Nonstop Mocca series, which are fully double and resemble roses.
- USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
- Color Varieties: Yellow, red, pink, white, orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, light, moist, well-drained
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02 of 10
elenaleonova / Getty ImagesGardeners living in areas with cool, wet summers cannot pass up the opportunity to grow this amazing, shade-loving tender perennial.
Although the plants do tend to wither in summer weather, you can look for one of the more heat-tolerant varieties, like 'Astoria', 'Jupiter', or 'Surprise'. A little fuss will prolong the beauty of fuchsias in hanging baskets. The plants respond well to daily misting, regular fertilizing, and diligent deadheading. - USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
- Color Varieties: White, pink, red, purple, multicolored
- Sun Exposure: Part sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, fertile, loamy
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03 of 10
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In frost-free areas, common lantana can become somewhat of a thug, growing into a wild woody shrub that scrambles through fences and overtakes flowerbeds. However, the vibrant flower clusters of lantana provide reliable tropical color for a long growing season, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Choose a small weeping variety for your hanging baskets, such as 'Patriot Popcorn' or 'Patriot Rainbow.
' If lantana is overly vigorous in your area, choose a sterile variety (like 'Gold Mound' or 'Patriot') that does not grow seed-filled berries. - USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11
- Color Varieties: Combinations of red, orange, yellow, white, pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained; will tolerate poor soils
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04 of 10
bob davis photography / Getty ImagesIt is best to think of Lobelia erinus as a spilling seasonal plant for early spring, as it thrives in moderate temperatures. Your hanging basket will be covered with a mass of electric-blue flowers with contrasting white throats that appeal to butterflies. At the end of June, do not waste any time trying to coddle the plants; replace them with million bells, lantana, or another heat-loving plant.
- USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
- Color Varieties: Purple, blue, red, pink, violet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Organically rich, well-drained, evenly moist
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05 of 10
Mark R Coons / Getty ImagesThis cousin of the petunia will not tucker out when the temperatures rise.
Million bells produce little or no seed and don’t require deadheading to stay in bloom. All they need is moist soil and a full day of sun to keep your hanging baskets vibrant. - USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
- Color Varieties: Many shades and combinations of pink, yellow, red, violet, white, blue, magenta, bronze
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, slightly acid
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06 of 10
brytta / Getty Images
You may know these plants by the more common name of geranium, but pelargoniums are grown as annuals north of their hardiness zones, while true geraniums are hardy perennials. The bold texture, bright colors, and trailing habit of pelargoniums make them ideal for hanging baskets. Deadheading is necessary to keep the plants blooming until frost.
- USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
- Color Varieties: Red, lavender, purple, pink, white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acid, not too rich
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07 of 10
ANDREA RAPISARDA PHOTOGRAPHY/Getty ImagesPetunias have always been a classic favorite for hanging baskets, but some gardeners are challenged by petal blight in rainy and very humid weather.
Try the milliflora variety, which blooms continuously without the need for pinching, or multiflora, which performs in hot, wet summers. Petunias are at their most fragrant in the evening, so add a white variety to a moon garden for extra allure. - USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
- Color Varieties: Many shades and combinations of purple, lavender, yellow, blue magenta, maroon, pink, red, white, bi-colored
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Light, fertile, well-drained, slightly acid
11 Top Varieties of Petunias
How to Care for Planting Petunias in a Hanging Basket
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08 of 10
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Place portulaca, or moss rose, in a site where it will receive sun for most of the day. When the plant sits in shade, its flowers close up. Pair moss rose with other heat-loving, drought-tolerant plants, like spiderwort, which will provide color between blooming cycles.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11
- Color Varieties: Orange, white, rose, yellow, red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained, tolerates moist to dry soil
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09 of 10
karayuschij / Getty Images
Sitting near a sweet alyssum hanging basket is like being in the presence of a fragrant cloud. These flowers have a strong honey scent that attracts butterflies and bees. The appealing trailing habit of sweet alyssum can turn shaggy as the season progresses, so do not be afraid to reinvigorate it with a summer haircut.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11
- Color Varieties: White, pink, purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, neutral pH
Growing Sweet Alyssum Flowers
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10 of 10
Lotus Vine (Lotus berthelotii)
AnjaCibej/Getty ImagesImpress your gardening friends by telling them your garden includes a plant endemic to the Canary Islands.
Lotus berthelotii, also known as lotus vine or parrot's beak vine, is in decline in its native habitat, but it is easy to cultivate and propagate from seed and cuttings. Its greenish-gray, needle-like leaves are, in fact, as soft as a feather. Joyful flame-like flowers dot the plant all season when grown in a sunny spot. The Jedi secret to growing this quirky plant is to provide it with daily moisture in a special cactus or orchid potting mix with excellent drainage. - USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 12
- Color Varieties: Orange, red, yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Light, well-drained or orchid potting mix
The Best Spiller Plants for Container Gardens
Watch Now: Our Favorite Flowers for Hanging Baskets
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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- getty
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.
- Photo
- Véronique Trudel/Unsplash
This type of hanging plant thrives in humid environments, so the bathroom is the perfect place for it.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- 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.
- Photo
- thesill
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- Plants in the interior
Ampelous flowers for pots, photos and names. Compositions
Flowers are a delightful creation of nature that can decorate any home and garden. It is clear that not only the owners of their own garden or house with a veranda want to admire their beauty, but also the residents of apartments. Therefore, on the balconies and window sills of flower growers, you can increasingly see flowerpots and hanging pots with ampelous flowers. When choosing ampelous flowers for flowerpots, many people are guided only by photos and beautiful names, without thinking that certain types of plants require certain care.
As a result, it is not possible to grow a healthy flower. From this article you will learn what flowers are called ampelous, what are their distinguishing features and how to create a blooming corner at home.
- One of the main advantages of ampelous flowers is their ability to grow quickly and bloom throughout the warm season;
- Such flowers can be grown almost everywhere: in the garden, on the open veranda, on the glazed balcony and even in the room on the windowsill;
- Hanging pots do not take up much space and look beautiful from any angle. Such a flower garden will be an excellent interior decoration;
- Some species can bloom even in the cold season, if greenhouse conditions are created for them. For this, a glazed balcony or living room is suitable;
- Ampelous plants often do not require constant careful care. For them, it is enough to create comfortable temperature conditions, do not forget about watering and seasonal top dressing.
In addition, these flowers have a very diverse color scheme, so that any area with them will sparkle with new colors.
It will be useful to read:
Undersized perennials in the garden
Plants up to half a meter high are considered undersized, they are used to create flower beds, borders, rock gardens. They…
Classification
Ampels are distinguished by a huge variety of species. Among them there are both annual and perennial crops growing in the light or in the shade, drought-resistant and loving moisture. In general, they can be divided into three broad groups.
Succulents
Succulents have the ability to store water in the tissues of the leaves and stems. It is the thick and dense, fleshy stems and leaves that distinguish this group of plants from the rest. In care, succulents are unpretentious, they do not need frequent watering, but they are photophilous.
Among the ampelous succulents, the most common are:
- Sedum or sedum. There are a lot of species of this plant, it is unpretentious and has unusual shapes. As an ampel, you can use stonecrop Morgan, stonecrop burrito and others.
- Aporocactus whip-shaped or rat's tail cactus. You can tie it up in an original way or leave the stems and flowers hanging from the pots. From afar, this plant resembles the green tentacles of an octopus;
Whip aporocactus or rat's tail cactus
- Wood's Ceropegia, characterized by pale red stems and dark green, white-veined leaves, is a popular houseplant;
- Rowley's ragwort is distinguished by the fact that small "balls" grow on its stems, capable of covering a very large area. It looks original on window sills and alpine slides;
Rawley's ragwort
- Ripsalis cassuta (empty) - a bright bunch of greens in a pot. It is good for them to decorate pots on stands in the house, window sills and bar counters.
Like all succulents, it is an unpretentious plant to care for.
Flowering plants
The most common ampelous flowering plants are:
- Fuchsia. Perennial with very unusual bright flowers, similar to openwork Chinese lanterns. This is a rather unpretentious indoor flower;
- Pelargonium ampelous or ampelous geranium. Due to the long flowering and ease of care, this flower is very popular. Geranium loves warmth, light, free space;
- Achimenes, another name - twisted fruit. A phlox or petunia-like flower with a flexible stem. It is necessary to observe the light regime for this flower, depending on the stage of its growth. He also needs regular abundant watering and room temperature;
Achimenez (twisted fruit)
- Columnea. This flower is popularly called "indoor orchid", despite the fact that it has nothing to do with the type of orchids. A rather demanding culture, without proper care it simply will not bloom.
She needs good lighting without direct sunlight on the leaves, high humidity and no drafts. It blooms with orange-yellow and bright red flowers. - Petunia ampelnaya or one of its surfinia variety groups. It blooms profusely in good light, withstands temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius, but it needs to be watered daily. The flowers of this plant are large, bright. It has many varieties of various shades, from dark purple to bright white, the delicate pink color of this plant is quite common. This is a flower often found in the photo of summer cottages. Light and heat-loving plant, prefers loamy or sandy loamy soils.
Surfinia
Ornamental leafy crops
Despite the fact that such ampels bloom inconspicuously, they have an unusual appearance and look great in a planter:
- Hanging Zebrina (Tradescantia). Zebrina got its name because of the white and silver stripes on the leaves. This striped plant combines deep purple, green and light colors and looks very unusual in a planter.
Its advantage is unpretentiousness, so tradescantia is suitable even for beginner growers; - Crested or Cape Chlorophytum. It is one of the most popular indoor plants. A lush bush of long striped or green leaves looks great in hanging pots. Chlorophytum blooms with small flowers, similar to lilies, which makes it doubly unusual;
- Creeping ficus. This culture with rich green leaves and elastic shoots requires almost no maintenance, which deserves its popularity among indoor plants;
Southern plectranthus (Scandinavian ivy)
- Southern plectranthus, popularly known as "Scandinavian ivy" for its climbing stems. The leaves of this plant really look like ivy. Requires abundant diffused lighting and frequent watering;
- Asparagus, also called asparagus. The light green shoots of this plant look like airy clouds planted in flower pots. Demanding to light, but not capricious to temperature changes;
- Dichondra ampelous, often referred to as silver or emerald waterfall.
Looks amazing on alpine slides, arches and walls of houses. A large number of small leaves on the branches of this plant, cascading down from top to bottom, resembles a green waterfall.
We select a place
When choosing a place for seedlings of ornamental crops in the country, as well as the optimal location of flower pots in the apartment, one should take into account the features inherent in each type of ampelous plants. For example:
- Shade-tolerant plants are ampelous balsam, ampelous varieties of viola and prostrate nolana;
- Petunia, verbena, bidens and Moorish bindweed are not afraid of the sun;
- Moisture-loving - suter, scaevola, indoor balsam and dichondra;
- Drought-tolerant verbena, pelargonium and various succulents;
- Resistant to wind gusts Euphorbia hanging.
It is also necessary to observe the rule for ampelous plants, according to which, for example, it is impossible to plant moisture-loving plants together with succulents, and shade-loving plants with those that need bright lighting.
It will be useful to read:
Ampel flower arrangements in your home
Ampelous flowers for the garden should be planted in large raised beds, on alpine slides or put pots with them on decorative stands. Garden flowers in bright colors, such as red or blue, will look best on a lawn or among trees. For outdoor cultivation, it is more practical to choose perennials.
Hanging flowers for the balcony are better to choose from annual species with a long flowering period. For example, it can be ampelous geranium, fuchsia, petunia, verbena, which should be sown from late February to mid-March. On glazed balconies and loggias flower arrangements of pastel shades will look good. Exhibiting flowers on the balcony, those with a pleasant aroma will also be a good option.
Ampelous flowers can decorate any corner in your house or garden. The shoots of dichondra, aspargus or Rowley's ragwort falling from the windowsill will look especially original.
