Outdoor hanging flower plants
22 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants
Outdoor hanging plants might just be our favorite way to up the charm factor of a garden or home, big or small. Think sunny window boxes, a front porch beam studded with lush ferns, or a hanging basket spilling over with petunias as an accent to a collection of patio plants.
“Hanging baskets are a great final touch to a space that needs more texture than architecturally planned,” says landscape designer Daniel McCurry of Father Nature Landscapes, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
To help you bring a little height and texture to your patio, porch, balcony, or landscape plantings, we’ve gathered our favorite outdoor hanging plants here—from cascading flowers to trailing vines, from full sun options to shade lovers. But first, there are a few things you need to consider:
- Plan to water outdoor hanging plants more often. McCurry, who is based where summer temperatures are quite intense, says, “Because of their suspension in the air, hanging baskets require daily watering.
So only buy them if you have the capacity for daily watering or drip irrigation for them.”
- Place them where foot traffic won’t be compromised, says McCurry. (After all, no one wants to run face first into a plant.)
- If you’re envisioning a hanging basket with multiple plants, consider a pre-planted one. “The plants are typically grown together by the grower, so their roots seem to be deeper and more established when you first purchase them,” says McCurry.
A final word of advice: "Chat with the experts at your local plant shop, or check with your extension service," advises Country Living Senior Food & Garden Editor Chris Michel. While these plant selections are all low-maintenance and suited to outdoor hanging planters, local experts can help you decipher which are best for your growing conditions and how best to care for them in your environment.
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Petunia
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Technically a tender perennial, many modern petunia hybrids are now grown as annuals in all USDA Plant Hardiness Zones.
Their voluminous flowers also make petunias ideal for outdoor hanging baskets, but know that some varieties do require a bit of trimming and deadheading. For a low-maintenance, heat-tolerant variety that doesn't need deadheading, try 'Supertunia Vista'. "It can trail up to 4 feet in a container!" says Melissa Lallo Johnson of @fancyflowerfarmer, a master gardener based in the Midwest.
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Ferns
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In a shady or part-shade spot, ferns offer lovely trailing foliage. "I love the look of a hanging fern outdoors. The detail of the leaves as they unfurl is mesmerizing," says Johnson. "I cut mine back in late fall and then keep them by a basement window to regenerate for the following season."
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Verbena
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Known for its stress-relieving essential oils, verbena is a beautiful hanging plant that comes in more than 250 different varieties.
These butterfly-attracting plants demands lots of sun (8 to 10 hours per day) and a well-draining soil.
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Blue Bacopa
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Bacopa is most easily grown outdoors in containers, which allows for the consistent moisture that this flowering plant needs. For optimal growth, hang your bacopa in a place where there is a lot of afternoon shade.
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Moss Rose
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Thanks to its succulent leaves, this drought-tolerant, sun-loving plant can take the heat. Also known as moss rose purslane, Mexican rose, sun rose, and rock rose, it spills over outdoor hanging baskets beautifully and thrives in well-drained soil. Its flowers are available in white and an array vibrant warm hues to match your garden's palette. Take note: Hang it out of reach of children and pets; it is toxic if consumed.
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Ivy Geranium
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This plant is great for hot and sunny areas. The low-maintenance blooms have gained popularity in European window boxes for their ability to repel flies in the summer.
Related: The Best Window Box Planters to Spruce Up Your Home
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Spider Plant
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You may already know and love this yellow-and-green-hued houseplant inside your home, but you can grow it as an outdoor hanging plant too. This non-fussy perennial prefers bright sunlight, but avoid too much afternoon sun in hot climates as it is susceptible to sunburn. Plan to bring it indoors over winter unless you live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.
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Strawberries
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Yes, that summery favorite of fruit-forward desserts is also an easy plant to grow in a hanging container! Sun-loving strawberries are distantly related to the rose, so the flowers are pretty with a mild, pleasant smell.
And of course you get the benefit of the fruit! Here's more on how to grow strawberries.
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Hanging Fuchsia
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Know that fuchsias don’t bode well in hot climates, but they are great as outdoor hanging plants for summer and will attract hummingbirds. They do wonderfully along the coast or in cool areas.
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Lobelia
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Lobelia comes in incredibly intense blue colors, which are a bit of a rarity in the plant world. Place them in full sun to part shade. Technically a tender perennial, as an annual, blue lobelia can thrive in climates all over the U.S. For a trailing variety, try 'Hot Water Blue'.
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Begonia Boliviensis
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This hanging begonia breed is most alluring thanks to its unique, angel-wing-shaped leaf.
Just one of these hummingbird-friendly plants can fill a whole container, whether in sun or shade. While not cold hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones lower than 9, the tubers can be stored over winter and replanted in early spring.
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Pothos
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Outdoors, this tropical hanging plant loves filtered light, humid air, and warm temperatures. Think a covered or screened porch. Unless you are in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 to 12, plan to bring it inside over the winter.
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Scaevola Aemula "Blue Wonder"
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Commonly known as fan flower, the drought-tolerant plant boasts beautiful blue, fan-shaped flowers that look lovely in any hanging basket. And a bonus for lazy gardeners: No deadheading is necessary as it blooms.
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Black-Eyed Susan Vine
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Don't let the vine variety throw you off—while it does grow rather rapidly and aggressively (they can actually climb up the basket's hangers), they're incredibly easy to maintain and produce very colorful flowers.
Take note: It's best grown in cooler climates as an annual; avoid it in frost-free environments, where it can be an invasive perennial.
15
Oxalis Triangularis
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Also known as the "purple shamrock" or "false shamrock," Oxalis triangularis is a colorful hanging plant that can be grown outdoors or indoors. It's known for leaves that open up during the day and close at night. Place it where it gets afternoon shade, especially in intense heat, and plan to bring it inside over winter unless you live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8 or above. Take note: Be careful where you place it; if eaten, this plant can be toxic to cats and dogs.
16
Nasturtium
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Preferring poor soil and full sun or partial shade, consider this the best low-maintenance hanging plant, specifically its trailing varieties.
While most are annuals, some nasturtiums will also grow as perennials in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. The lovely blooms are also one of our favorite edible flowers!
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String of Pearls
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We're sold on this hanging succulent for its striking bead-like looks alone. It's also drought-resistant. Plan to bring it inside during the cool seasons unless you live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.
18
Calibrachoa
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Commonly referred to as Million Bells or trailing petunia, the pretty-in-pink plant is a go-to flowering plant for hanging baskets thanks to its fast-growing florals and variety of colors. Plant calibrachoa outdoors in the late spring in well-drained soil and you can enjoy the foliage until fall. Bonus: No need to deadhead the blooms.
19
Sweet Alyssum
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How sweet this flowering plant truly is—both heat- and drought-resistant, the white blooms can handle a handful of regions in the U.S., specifically milder environments. Its enticing scent also attracts bees and butterflies (and humans!).
20
Burro's Tail
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This sedum clearly earns its name from its long, tail-like woven branches, which look stunning hanging from a pot or basket on our porch or patio. Plan to take in inside over winter unless you live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, where it can stay outdoors year round.
21
Pansies
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Self-seeding, easy-to-grow pansies prefer cooler weather, namely in the late fall and early spring.
The blooms have also gained attention for their exquisite face-like petals.
22
Diascia
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The spilling plant's ideal growing conditions involve full sun or partial shade, cooler temperatures, and slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
Blair Donovan Blair Donovan is a staff writer for CountryLiving.com, where she covers everything from the latest Joanna Gaines and “The Voice” news to home décor, gardening, DIY, and entertaining.
Terri Robertson Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.
8 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants for Your Patio
Running out of room for your garden? Go vertical! Here are some of our favorite plants for hanging baskets.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
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What Are Outdoor Hanging Plants?
Outdoor hanging plants are really any plant you choose to grow in a hanging planter. Some hanging baskets come pre-planted from the garden store; these can be mixed baskets or a single type of plant. Other hanging baskets come empty so you can fill them with whatever you like. You can even make a hanging planter out of recycled materials, like an old tire.
Hanging baskets are most commonly used for ornamental plants. However, some people even grow strawberries, tomatoes and herbs in hanging planters. Here are a few outdoor hanging plants to try for your patio.
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Geranium
Geraniums are lovely, low-maintenance annual flowers that are grown all over the U.
S. They are well-known for their stunning red blooms, but they’re frequently sold in pink and white as well. These do well in containers, especially as outdoor hanging plants. They like plenty of sunlight. A full sun patio is the perfect spot for a hanging geranium.
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Begonia
Shady patios can have plenty of color with begonias. There are many species of shade-loving begonia with fabulous flowers and foliage. Some varieties, like the polka dot begonia, are all about the leaves, while others have delicate, showy blooms. Some types of begonias can even tolerate sun.
Not all begonias are well-suited to hanging planters, but a cascading begonia looks stunning as an outdoor hanging plant.
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Petunia
Petunias are a summer favorite. Their cheerful trumpet-shaped blooms come in a variety of eye-catching colors and patterns.
Petunias do require lots of deadheading to stay in good shape, but with proper care they’ll provide season-long color. If you love the look of trailing plants in outdoor hanging baskets, opt for a wave petunia.
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String of Pearls
For the warm climate gardener, string of pearls makes a great outdoor hanging plant. These unique succulents look just as their name suggests — like a string of pearls. Small, spherical leaves dot its stems to create a beautiful trailing plant. Its vibrant green pearls look nice when paired with a white or cream pot.
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Fuchsia
Fuchsia plants have incredible flowers. The common hardy fuchsia, also called hummingbird fuchsia, has vibrant blooms with white or purple centers. They bloom all season and are one of the best plants for attracting hummingbirds.
Fuchsias do so well as hanging plants that they’re almost exclusively sold in baskets.
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Burro’s Tail
It might be tough to find this plant at your local garden center, but you’ve likely seen a faux burro’s tail at a home décor store. A specialty succulent shop or website is most likely to have this lovely outdoor hanging plant. This type of sedum also does well indoors, so you can bring it inside when temperatures drop.
Burro’s tail is easy to propagate. You can find cuttings and starter plants on Etsy.
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Fern
Big, bushy ferns make elegant outdoor hanging plants. Hang some on a front porch to increase curb appeal. Their wispy leaves grab attention as people walk by your home. Ferns do cascade over the edge of a hanging basket, but they’re full at the top, too.
Thanks to their interesting leaves and incredible volume, ferns when planted alone look simple and sleek — never boring.
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Pothos
Here’s another plant that is easy to propagate and can be grown indoors or outdoors. Pothos comes in many colors. Some varieties, like devil’s ivy, have bright, golden-green leaves, while others are a deep emerald and white variegation. If you’re someone who likes to root cuttings for friends, this is a good outdoor hanging plant for you.
Originally Published: July 26, 2021
Mikayla Borchert
Mikayla is an assistant editor for Family Handyman, specializing in indoor and outdoor gardening, organization and décor. She has one cat and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, she likes running, skiing, hiking and tending her balcony garden.
14 best plants for outdoor planters
Grab a list of perfect plants for large pots and containers and go get seedlings!
Planters are not only small flowerpots for indoor ampelous plants, but also large outdoor pots.
We tell you what kind of plants to "populate" exactly such containers in order to decorate with them a veranda, patio, a recreation area in front of the house or even a balcony.
Begonia
Begonia is one of the main favorites of urban gardeners: this flower can be found in flowerbeds, flower beds and in balcony containers. It blooms all season (from May to October), does not require complex care, tolerates return frosts. This makes it an ideal plant for outdoor outdoor planters.
Begonia seedlings can still be planted in early summer.
Viola
Violas or pansies are long-awaited guests in any flower garden. They do not lose their beauty even at low temperatures and prolonged rains.
These unpretentious little ones have only two requirements for growers: timely watering and sufficient lighting. Therefore, you should not plant violas too close to each other - keep a distance of 20 cm between plants.
Geichera are delightful plants that delight with a huge variety of colors.
Several types of geyher are grown in culture: cylindrical, American, small-flowered, gooseberry-leaved, blood-red, hairy, hybrid.
Breeders have bred a large number of ornamental varieties with beautiful leaf color. We have collected the most popular of them in one article:
Heuchera prefer partial shade, so planters with them should not be installed in a sunny place.
Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata is one of the most common types of hydrangeas in gardens. To the delight of all lovers of container gardens, many varieties of this species are undersized. For example, hydrangea
with delicate white and pink inflorescences or pale green Little Lime grow to only 70 cm in height and 50-100 cm in width.
You can also plant Hydrangea variety Pastel Green in large containers - a new selection in 2016.
Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful, fragrant perennial. Fashion for him has not passed for many seasons.
Lavender is great for outdoor planting in summer. This culture loves the sun and does not need frequent watering. You don't have to worry about it drying out in the hot summer sun.
Blue fescue
Blue fescue is a perennial ornamental grass that looks great in large outdoor planters.
The height of the bushes is only 15-30 cm, but over the years they become more magnificent and denser.
Like lavender, fescue does not need to be over-moistened and fed.
Shaggy chamois
Shaggy pinnasetum (or pennisetum) is a perennial in nature, but because of its thermophilicity, it grows in cultivation as an annual. Of course, if you have the opportunity to transfer it to the greenhouse for the winter, it can delight you with its beautiful appearance in the next season.
In the middle lane, the hairy pinworm is grown through seedlings, as it will bloom too late when sown in open ground.
Petunia
Petunia is without exaggeration the main star of container gardens.
It blooms all summer and fills the flower garden with its sweet aroma.
Among the types and varieties of petunias there is a flower for every taste: there are stately grandiflora petunias, miniature multiflora petunias, and ampelous pendula petunias.
A detailed classification of this crop and a list of tested varieties can be found in our selection:
Ivy
Common ivy is not only one of the most "reference" garden vines, but also an excellent plant for high outdoor planters, in which it grows as an ampelous culture.
The main advantages of ivy are that it is shade-tolerant, unpretentious, evergreen and boasts beautifully shaped leaves.
Small-leaved boxwood
Boxwood is a good choice for gardeners who want to experiment with topiary haircuts. From this low ornamental shrub, very interesting topiaries can turn out!
Small-leaved boxwood does not exceed 1.5 m in height, so it is suitable for growing in large pots and containers.
Thuja globular
Dwarf globular thuja is an ideal "inhabitant" for outdoor planters. Plants of this variety are quite compact, they will feel great in a large container.
Thuja does not need extra advertising: this culture looks decorative all year round, endures both heat and frost, and cleans the air well.
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is notable for its unusual shape of inflorescences - they look like outlandish two-color bells.
This spectacular plant can be safely planted in outdoor planters: it grows quickly, luxuriantly and blooms for a long time.
Hosta
Hostas are another favorite of landscape designers. This picky beauty will decorate even the most shady corner of the garden with her rich foliage. Most importantly, remember the rule: the darker the color of the hosta, the less demanding it is for lighting.
There are countless varieties and types of this crop, but still we tried! Look for a detailed classification of the most common types and varieties of hostas in our selection:
Chrysanthemum multiflora
Dwarf globular chrysanthemums literally flood garden shops in late summer and early autumn.
Still would! Where else can you find a lush bush that can bloom until deep frosts?
Low-growing varieties of chrysanthemums are often grown as annuals for container gardens.
Whichever set of outdoor planters you choose, take a look at the list of 7 Secrets to a Luxurious Container Garden:
11 Outdoor Hanging Plants
Image - Wikimedia / Maya Dumat any other place where you want to hang a beautiful basket or flower pot and fill it with life, You will be interested to know what outdoor hanging plants are. And the truth is, there are a lot more of them than you would expect, and there are even some that, although they are not pendants, they can be used as such, so it will not be difficult for you to find one that fits perfectly with the place where you want to put it.
However, not everyone should remain in search of a better place for him, and now, because if he is not given the necessary services, in a few weeks he will be spoiled.
With all this in mind, I will also explain how to care for this ???? ,
Index
- 1 Hanging balls
- 2 Nasturtium
- 3 Love
- 4 Diasis
- 5 Fuchsia
- 6 ivy geranium
- 7 ivy (small sheet)
- 8 IMPATITITITITIENS0152
- 9 nephrolepis
- 10 Petunia
- 11 Verbena
Hanging balls
Image - Flickr / Forest and Kim Starr
Also known as the Rosary, its scientific name: Senozi Rowaninus , and this -West Africa. Its globular leaves, sprouting from thin stems with creeping supports, make it one of the most beloved plants. for hanging pots.
It should be in partial shade, with a substrate that drains well, and should be fairly sparsely watered as it does not resist flooding at all. Precise frost protection.
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Nasturtium
Known as the queen's taco, galan spur, blood flower, maranuela, Indian watercress or pelon, this climbing or creeping plant has an annual cycle (i.
e. lives only one year), the scientific name of which is Tropaelum greatus which grows up to a maximum of 30-40 cm. Blooms yellow, orange, red or bicolor throughout the summer. .
Have to put on a sunny show and water frequently. As a curiosity, you should know that both leaves and flowers can be used in salads, for example 🙂.
Article subject:
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
love
Image - Wikimedia / Mocha
This is a perennial herbaceous plant with pointed leaves (hence one of its popular names), also known as spider, love tie or Malamadre. It is native to South Africa and its scientific name is Chlorophytum vulgaris . It doesn't grow much, about 20-25 cm, and because it produces stolon suckers that appear to "fall", it is one of the plants most commonly used as a hanging plant. .
It should be in partial shade, in a well-drained substrate and moderately watered. Resistant to cold and mild frosts down to -2ºС.
Diasia
This is a beautiful perennial herb native to South Africa, grown as an annual. It grows very fast, in fact, in a few weeks even a pot can be hidden between its leaves and flowers that appear in large numbers from spring to autumn and are red or pink in color. It does not exceed 50 cm in height.
It can be in full sun or partial shade (provided it receives more light than shade) and needs moderate watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Does not resist cold and frost.
fuchsia
This is a plant native to America and Oceania, known as earrings, earrings or queen tendrils. The species sold are shrubs between 20 and 40 centimeters high, so it is interesting to grow them in hanging pots, but as a curiosity, we add that in New Zealand there is one Fuchsia excorticata which grows like a tree up to 15 meters.
Blooms in summer-autumn , needs to be in a place protected from direct sunlight, as well as moderate watering with rainwater.
or low pH.
Article Subject:
Queen's Earrings (Fuchsia hybrida)
Geranium Ivy
Image - Wikimedia / Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
This is a perennial plant native to southern and eastern South Africa, whose scientific name is Pelargonium peltatum grows to 30-40 cm tall, with hanging/creeping stems. Its flowers bloom all year round but stronger in summer and early autumn.
Caring for him is relatively simple: he should be in the sun or in partial shade, watered often, and it does not hurt to do prophylactic treatments against geranium worm.
Ivy (small leaf)
It is a perennial climbing or creeping plant native to Europe, Africa and Asia that grows rapidly so that is important to trim often. The flowers are small, greenish, have no decorative value.
It should be protected from the sun and watered moderately or sparingly. Resistant to cold and frost down to -6ºC.
Impatiens
Known as house joy, this is an annual or perennial herb native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the world.
Depending on the species, it grows from 20 cm to one meter in height, and produces small but decorative white, pink, lilac or red flowers in summer. .
Requires aging, protected from the star king, and fairly frequent watering. It does not support either cold or sub-zero temperatures.
Article topic:
Balsam (Impatiens walleriana)
Nephrolepis
This is a perennial fern growing in temperate regions of the Old World, reaching 50 centimeters in height. Since its leaves are long and drooping, and it also sprouts, it is easy to keep in pots. in corners where sunlight does not penetrate.
Requires frequent watering and fertile substrate. It withstands frosts down to -3ºC if they are short and short-term.
Article subject:
Nephrolepsis
petunias
Petunias are a perennial herb that is considered an annual native of South America. Its height is low, about 15 to 60 cm, usually about 30-35 cm.
