Do you want to add magic to your bare wall or dull balcony? Hanging baskets and pots are the easiest way to add that wow factor to small spaces. They’re one of the simplest (and prettiest) ways to transform small spaces into eye-catching, mood-lifting retreats. Few things create a greater impact than baskets overflowing with vibrant flowers. Research suggests that flowers can have a positive effect on mood and social perception, thereby enhancing our emotional well-being. With that in mind, let’s explore the 15 best flowers and plants for hanging baskets and pots. When selecting flowers or plants for hanging baskets, we scoured the internet and created this list using personal blogs and gardening websites. We added flowers based on eye-catching hues to give your space that pop of color, growth habits, and maintenance level.
1. Petunias
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Petunias are a classic favorite for hanging baskets because of their bold colors and long-lasting blooms. With proper deadheading and fertilization, they can bloom continuously from spring to early fall, making them a top choice for vibrant displays. However, selecting the correct type of petunia for your specific region is essential. This way, you can create a vibrant wall with hanging baskets that flourish throughout the seasons. Petunias tolerate a wide range of weather conditions, adding to their appeal and enabling them to thrive in diverse environments.
2. Fuchsias
Image credit: Depositphotos.com
Fuchsias are prized for their exotic, drooping flowers that look stunning in hanging baskets. Their falling blooms in shades of pink, purple, and red attract hummingbirds, making them a pollinator-friendly choice. They prefer cool, moist conditions and require regular watering, especially in the summer. Expert gardeners recommend that fuchsias in hanging baskets maintain better flower longevity when misted daily, as opposed to traditional soil watering.
3. Lobelia
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Lobelia creates a stunning waterfall effect in hanging pots with its tiny, vibrant blue, white, or purple flowers. They’re perfect for adding soft, flowing edges to a mixed plant display in a hanging pot. Lobelias thrive in cooler temperatures and appreciate partial shade, as direct, harsh sunlight can cause them to wilt. Lobelias can significantly improve aesthetic appeal in mixed hanging arrangements due to their unique cascading growth habit. Their large flowers will surely be the center of attention for people visiting your house.
4. Bacopa
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Bacopa is known for its delicate, small flowers that bloom profusely in white, pink, or lavender. They’re fantastic spillers, making any hanging basket look fuller and more elegant. Bacopa blooms continuously in cooler weather and can experience a slight lull during peak summer heat, but it rebounds with proper care. These plants require consistently moist soil and do well in partial sun to light shade. Bacopa grown in self-watering hanging baskets maintains more blooms during the summer months than traditional baskets. This makes them an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a lush, cascading effect with minimal effort.
5. Ivy Geraniums
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Ivy geraniums are a favorite for their glossy, ivy-like leaves and clusters of bright flowers. Unlike upright geraniums, ivy geraniums have a trailing habit, making them ideal for hanging baskets. A study shows that ivy geraniums are drought-tolerant once established, needing less frequent watering than other trailing plants. They thrive in full sun but benefit from afternoon shade in hot climates. Regular deadheading and balanced liquid feeding every two weeks can significantly extend their blooming period.
6. Calibrachoa
Image credit: Depositphotos.com
Calibrachoa, often called “Million Bells,” looks like miniature petunias and is perfect for hanging baskets. It blooms profusely in vibrant shades of pink, red, yellow, and blue and can produce a dense, colorful cascade. Calibrachoa plants are self-cleaning, which means no deadheading is required, making them ideal for low-maintenance gardeners. Once established, they are drought-tolerant. Calibrachoa performs better with slightly acidic soil and benefits from regular liquid feeding. Their trailing growth can extend up to 18 inches, creating a stunning waterfall effect for months.
7. Sweet Alyssum
Image credit: Depositphotos.com.
Sweet Alyssum is a charming addition to hanging baskets with its carpet of tiny, fragrant flowers in white, pink, and purple hues. This plant thrives in cool weather and can bloom continuously with proper moisture and light. Though tolerant of full sun, it appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates. It is known for its sweet, honey-like fragrance. Sweet alyssum is easy to grow from seed or plant, making it an excellent choice for small-space gardeners. Your sweet alyssum will bloom beautifully throughout the growing season with the right growing conditions and care.
8. Nasturtiums
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Nasturtiums are vibrant, fast-growing flowers with edible leaves and blooms. They’re known for their trailing habit, perfect for spilling over the edges of hanging pots. Nasturtiums are excellent for companion planting, helping repel pests like aphids and whiteflies. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter regions. Nasturtiums are drought-tolerant and thrive in poor to average soil, making them low-maintenance. Nasturtiums are also known for their antioxidant properties and ability to improve urban biodiversity, adding beauty and ecological benefits to your space.
9. String of Pearls
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
String of Pearls is a fascinating succulent with its distinctive appearance that instantly grabs attention. Its fleshy, bead-like leaves resemble a green necklace, giving a whimsical, cascading effect as it sprawls over the edges of containers and hanging baskets. Also known as Rosary String of Beads, this succulent adds an eclectic touch to indoor or outdoor gardens, making it a unique focal point in modern home decor. Beyond its good looks, String of Pearls is prized for its low-maintenance, carefree growth habit. They grow in bright, indirect sunlight. They require infrequent watering due to their drought-tolerant nature. Overwatering is its main enemy, so a well-draining soil mix is essential. With the proper care, this quirky plant rewards you with lush, cascading vines and tiny white flowers with a sweet, cinnamon-like scent.
10. Begonias
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Begonias, especially the trailing varieties like Begonia boliviensis, are loved for their lush foliage and vibrant, bell-shaped flowers. They perform beautifully in hanging baskets, adding color and volume. These plants flourish in partial shade and require consistently moist, well-drained soil. Begonia boliviensis varieties maintain more blooms in containers than in traditional bedding locations. Their cascading growth can spill 18–24 inches, making them a dramatic addition to shady patios and balconies.
11. English Ivy
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
English Ivy is a hardy, evergreen trailing plant perfect for adding lush greenery to hanging baskets. Its cascading vines create a classic, elegant look. English Ivy can reduce airborne mold, making it a functional and beautiful choice for indoor and outdoor spaces. It thrives in partial to full shade and requires minimal maintenance once established. Regular trimming encourages fuller growth. The plant’s resilience to varying temperatures and air-purifying properties make it a popular choice for vertical gardens and hanging arrangements.
12. Dichondra
Image credit: Depositphotos.
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ stands out with its shimmering silver foliage and trailing vines that can spill over 3 feet, making it a striking choice for hanging baskets. This plant is heat- and drought-tolerant, ideal for hot, dry climates. Dichondra thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. It is also resistant to pests and diseases and requires little maintenance. Its silver color provides a stunning contrast when paired with colorful flowering plants, adding texture and brightness to any arrangement.
13. Trailing Verbena
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Trailing Verbena is a low-growing, sprawling plant covered in clusters of bright flowers from spring through fall. Verbena is highly attractive to pollinators like butterflies and bees, supporting urban biodiversity. It thrives in full sun and requires moderate watering. Container-grown verbena has more extended blooming periods when regularly fertilized. Its heat and light drought tolerance make it a robust choice for sunny hanging baskets.
14. Spider Plant
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Spider Plants are popular for their arching green and white striped leaves and baby “spiderettes” that dangle from the mother plant, creating a cascading effect. NASA’s Clean Air Study highlighted Spider Plants’ ability to remove up to 90% of airborne formaldehyde. Spider plants thrive in bright, indirect light and adapt well to various indoor conditions. They prefer evenly moist soil but tolerate occasional drought. Their resilience, air-purifying abilities, and visual appeal make them a favorite for hanging baskets indoors or outdoors if there’s a good spot for it. Check out more indoor plant varieties that look amazing in hanging baskets.
15. Impatiens
Image credit: Depositphotos.com
Impatiens are shade-loving annuals known for their bright, cheerful blooms in pink, red, orange, and white. Due to their compact, bushy growth, they are among the top choices for shaded hanging baskets. They require consistently moist soil and benefit from rich, organic matter. Their new downy mildew-resistant varieties in containers maintain bloom coverage for up to 6 months. Their low-maintenance nature and continuous color make them a must-have for shady patios and balconies.
Have Fun with It
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Ultimately, the beauty of hanging baskets lies in their versatility. You can choose plants from this list, experiment with different color palettes, and decide on an arrangement that reflects your personal style.