Hanging baskets are a unique and eye-catching way to brighten any outdoor space with stunning plants, flowers, or greenery. They’re great for adding vertical interest around pergolas, walls, and fences to your overall container gardening designs. An added benefit of hanging baskets is that they can make a huge statement in front of a house – adding instant curb appeal.
Not only do hanging baskets dress up outdoor spaces, but they can also improve the air quality inside your home. When it comes to selecting the best plants for hanging baskets, many low-maintenance options are available – and the potential influence of color and texture combinations is limitless. From perennial favorites to native plants outdoors or indoors, you can have fun getting creative with your hanging basket design ideas.
Table of Contents
Here are the 10 Best Plants for Hanging Baskets
1. Geraniums
Geraniums are among the most popular plants for hanging baskets because of their vibrant colors, easy maintenance, and long-lasting blooms. Ryan Benoit, the founder of SkyPots, notes that geraniums come in a variety of colors, making them perfect for those looking to add some vibrancy to their space.
Geraniums are hardy perennials that don’t require much attention or maintenance, making them an ideal choice for low-maintenance hanging basket displays.
Additionally, closely related pelargoniums can be used to decorate hanging baskets annually. Lisa Sears favors ivy leaf geraniums as they provide a stunning display of bright color while being easy to grow and requiring little upkeep.
With these variations, geraniums and pelargoniums have something special that makes them great choices for adding personality and style to your space with their splash of color.
2. Petunias
Petunias are a beautiful and easy-to-care-for option for hanging baskets. With their unique trumpet-shaped blooms and attractive foliage, petunias can make any hanging basket look stunning. These flowers come in a variety of colors, ranging from bright pinks to deep purples, so you can create a truly special display with petunias.
Petunias are also quite low-maintenance and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, making them perfect for both indoor and outdoor displays. They do require regular watering and deadheading to keep them looking their best, but overall they’re a great option for adding some quick and easy color to your hanging basket arrangements.
3. Fuchsias
Fuchsias are a beautiful and vibrant flower that instantly grabs attention in the garden. These eye-catching plants feature bell-shaped, two-toned blooms with frilly petals in white, pink, purple, or red shades.
They are perfect for hanging baskets as these trailing varieties can gracefully cascade from above. The flowers last throughout the summer months, so you can enjoy looking at their stunning display every day.
The best part about these plants is that they’re fairly easy to care for and nurture. Fuchsias thrive with plenty of light, but too much direct sunlight will scorch their leaves. Keep them consistently watered, but never let them sit in water, or their roots will rot.
Feed them once a month with a balanced fertilizer to ensure ample flowering through the summer months. That’s all it takes to create an amazing display of drooping frills of color that everyone can enjoy.
4. Impatiens
Impatiens are great for adding color and texture to any hanging basket display. These plants offer a beautiful bright look with their small, colorful flowers, and they’re incredibly easy to care for.
Impatiens thrive in partial shade and require little attention, making them an ideal choice for busy gardeners. Additionally, impatiens can tolerate high temperatures, making them a great choice for hot, humid climates.
5. Lantanas
Lantanas are a great option for adding bright color to your hanging baskets. These flowers come in a variety of colors, from yellow and orange to pink and purple.
They’re low-maintenance and require minimal water and fertilization, so you can enjoy their beauty without having to put in much effort. Additionally, lantanas can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and light conditions, so they’re an ideal choice for indoor and outdoor displays.
6. Begonia
Begonias are a classic option for hanging baskets, as their bright blooms and attractive foliage add interest and beauty to any display. These plants come in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can create a unique look with them.
Begonias prefer indirect sunlight and regular watering, but they can tolerate temperatures down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, making them perfect for indoor and outdoor displays.
7. Lobelia
Lobelia erinus is a popular bedding plant for hanging baskets and summer containers. With a range of colors available, including white, purple, pink, and brilliant shades of blue options, it’s easy to find one to fit the color palate of any summer container or hanging basket.
Growing in full sun and keeping the compost damp but not too wet is important when growing Lobelia. Feeding regularly is also essential to keep your plants lush and blooming through the season. Unlike some plants, Lobelia doesn’t require deadheading; just enough sunshine and moisture will reward you with endless blooms until the end of summer. With reliable results year after year, Thompson & Morgan has an extensive range of beautiful Lobelias.
8. Verbena
Verbena is great for adding texture and color to your hanging baskets. These plants come in an array of sizes and colors, from deep purples to bright pinks, so you can create a unique look with them. Verbena prefers full sun, but it can tolerate some shade as well. They require regular watering but are quite low -maintenance and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
9. Geraniums
Geraniums are a great choice for hanging baskets, as their bright blooms and attractive foliage add interest to any display. These plants come in various sizes and colors, from deep red to white, so you can create a unique look with them. Geraniums prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade and do best when kept consistently moist.
10. Painted Lady
The Painted Lady (Echeveria derenbergii) is an absolutely stunning hanging plant; its two-toned foliage makes it the perfect container display. Once established, this drought-resistant succulent can go without regular watering for long periods, and in the warmer months, it will produce showy yellow flowers with red tips.
To ensure this plant flourishes, you should hang it somewhere that gets plenty of light and definitely not overwater it; for best results, water them sparingly.
Echeveria derenbergii is native to Central Mexico and is often found in rock crevices between 2500 – 3100 meters above sea level. Its natural habitat makes it perfectly adapted to its minimal water requirements.
Once planted into your chosen container, you won’t have too much worry about getting accustomed to its new home or performing routine maintenance. As a result, you can enjoy the beauty of this exotic hanging succulent without having to put in too much effort.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. When Should You Start Hanging Baskets?
Planting a hanging basket at the right time. In order to grow summer hanging baskets, you need to start planting them as early as April, but you will need to protect them from frost until the middle or end of May. Once the frosts have passed, and the soil has warmed up, it is usually easier to plant your plants in situ if you do not have a greenhouse.
2. Should I Water My Hanging Baskets Every Day?
The hanging basket may not require daily watering during the cooler spring or fall months. You might have to water twice a day when temperatures reach 25-40’C, and you won’t only have to water every day but every second. Whenever you water, make sure the soil is completely saturated.
3. What Is The Best Size Hanging Basket?
When considering the size of a hanging basket, it is important to consider the size of the plants you plan to grow and the amount of sun exposure they will receive. Generally, smaller baskets are better for growing small-leaved or trailing plants such as ivy, fuchsia, and petunias. These plants need more support to stay upright in a larger basket. Larger baskets are best for larger plants like geraniums and begonias.
4. How Long Do Hanging Baskets Last?
Hanging baskets can last for a long time, depending on the type of plants used and how often they are cared for. In general, hanging baskets containing flowers or other flowering plants should be replaced yearly as these plants tend to die off after one season. However, if you use hardier types of plants like succulents or trailing houseplants, your hanging basket could last many years.
5. Why Do My Hanging Baskets Keep Dying?
If you’ve had a string of bad luck with your hanging baskets, it could be due to several factors. First and foremost, the plants you choose for your hanging baskets should be suitable for the climate in which you live and able to tolerate long periods of dryness.
Additionally, some plants may require more sunlight or water than others, so understanding the needs of each individual species is important. Finally, overwatering or underwatering can cause a plant to die, so make sure you’re giving your plants the right amount of water.
Conclusion
The Painted Lady (Echeveria derenbergii) is an excellent choice for a hanging basket. It’s drought-resistant and doesn’t require regular watering, making it the perfect low-maintenance plant. When choosing a hanging basket size, consider the size of the plants you plan to grow and their sun exposure needs.
You should replace flowering plants yearly, but other hardier plants can last many years. Finally, ensure you understand each plant’s needs and water accordingly to avoid overwatering or underwatering your plants.
