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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
