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Plants for hanging baskets that hang over the basket


10 Best Trailing Plants for Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets add long-lasting colour, height and interest to patios, doorways and balconies. The best plants for hanging baskets are tender perennials and annuals that have been bred to flower for a long time, providing a splash of colour all summer long.

Include a mix of upright and trailing plants for a generous, blowsy look. Trailing plants are often called 'spillers' as they trail over the edge of a hanging basket or pot.

How to create a hanging basket at home

There are many styles of hanging basket to choose from. Use a lightweight, peat-free potting compost and mix in slow-release fertiliser granules and water-retaining gel, before planting. Plant it up with a mixture of upright and trailing plants, in complementary colours, for a complete, co-ordinated look. Put your hanging basket up in late spring, after all risk of frost has passed, for a long-lasting summer display.

More on planting hanging baskets:

10 trailing plants for hanging baskets

1

Calibrachoa (million bells)

10 plants for hanging baskets - calibrachoa

Calibrachoa (million bells) are tender perennials, usually grown as annuals. Their trumpet-like flowers come in a wide range of colours, including purple, pink, red, yellow, orange and white. There is no need to deadhead calibrachoa.

2

Lobelia

10 plants for hanging baskets - lobelia

Lobelia erinus is a popular bedding plant for hanging baskets and summer containers. It comes in a range of colours, including white, purple, pink and brilliant shades of blue. Grow in full sun, don't let the compost dry out, and feed regularly. There's no need to deadhead.

3

Bacopa

10 trailing plants for hanging baskets – bacopa

This pretty trailing plant has masses of small, white, pink or purple flowers that last for months on end. There's no need to deadhead.

4

Fuchsia

10 trailing plants for hanging baskets – fuchsia

Fuchsias are much-loved for their hanging, bell-shaped, bi-coloured flowers that look like colourful, dancing skirts. The flowers last all summer long. Look out for trailing varieties in shades of white, pink, purple or red.

More like this

5

Begonia

10 trailing plants for hanging baskets - Begonia 'Inferno'

Begonias are a great choice for a hanging basket in a shady spot. 'Inferno' is especially spectacular, and is worthy of being grown on its own in a basket for long-lasting colour.

6

Verbena

10 trailing plants for hanging baskets – verbena

Bedding verbenas are a hanging basket staple, bearing small flowers in a range of colours, including purple and red.

7

Petunia

10 plants for hanging baskets - petunia

Petunias are popular bedding plants and are particularly popular in hanging baskets. They come in a wide range of colours, from white to dark purple – some are bi-coloured. The 'Tumbelina' series (pictured) has double, ruffled blooms.

8

Tomatoes

10 plants for hanging baskets - tomatoes

Edible plants add an additional wow factor to hanging baskets. Cherry tomatoes (bush varieties) grow well in hanging baskets – try 'Losetto', which has the advantage of being tomato blight-resistant, or 'Hundreds and Thousands'. Grow in a sunny spot and feed regularly.

9

Strawberries

Strawberries look lovely in hanging baskets as an alternative to strawberry planters – pretty white or pink flowers give way to luscious red fruits. Growing strawberries in hanging baskets means they aren't attacked by slugs or snails. Feed them regularly and grow in a sunny spot.

10

Creeping Jenny

10 plants for hanging baskets - creeping Jenny

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (creeping Jenny) has small, yellow flowers but is mostly grown for its golden foliage, which trails over the edge of hanging baskets and sets off other, more showy flowering plants. Grow in sun or part shade.

Other hanging basket plants to try

Osteospermum, petunia and verbena hanging basket

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.

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.

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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.

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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Garden

30.04.2020

Landscape design

Hanging plant baskets are used to decorate and decorate a balcony, window or porch. You can kill two birds with one stone: fill them with not only beautiful, but also delicious crops.

Hanging pots with fragrant flowering herbs are just what you need to complete the look of your home. They will give it a sophisticated look, especially if you use ampelous vegetables and herbs. Here are some simple tips to keep your hanging garden bright throughout the season.

Choose a sturdy wall bracket


Hanging baskets with earth and plants weigh a lot. Choose reliable metal wall brackets for plant pots, bearing in mind that wet earth weighs more. If the basket is located on an open balcony or terrace, remember that the wind will swing it and may rip it off.



How to hang?


It is better to choose a place protected from north and east winds - they are especially aggressive in our latitudes. Attach the planter holder so that you can access the basket at any time for watering, loosening or fertilizing the plants. You might prefer a moveable arm that you can raise and lower instead of climbing onto the stool yourself. Keep in mind that if the planter has drainage holes, water will drip from them. Ideally, if such a basket hangs over a container or flower bed with other plants: this will save you from dirty spots on the floor or pallet. To avoid water leakage, use hanging pots with a foil lining or with a tray.

What to plant?


When you think of a hanging planter in your garden, you immediately think of a sunny place. But there are many herbs that grow very well with little sun. Such a composition in a hanging basket solves the problem of those areas of the house that remain shaded, regardless of the time of day. Oxalis, leaf lettuce, coriander, mint and lemon balm, lavender are well suited for vegetable pots in partial shade. Rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, chives, miniature varieties of bitter pepper, pelargonium feel great in the sun. For lush baskets with lashes of plants hanging down, ampelous strawberries, ampelous varieties of tomatoes, nasturtium are used.

Learn more