Our Recommended Hanging Plants Will Glam Up Any Space
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Hanging plants are an easy way to make the most of every kind of space, both indoors and out.
Indoors, hanging plants don't take up floor space or tabletops. Plus, you can keep them out of the reach of curious kids and pets! They also add color and drama to boring corners or awkward spaces in your home.
Many indoor hanging plants, such some types of ferns, also can summer outdoors, as long as you bring them in for the winter before temperatures drop into the 40s.
Outdoors, hanging plants, such as petunias and fuchsia, are a way to add instant charm to your garden, decorate your front porch or patio, or make your back deck more inviting. Whether you're looking to fill window boxes or want to display a colorful collection of patio plants, hanging baskets are an easy solution.
They're also a great way to boost curb appeal. “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 in Birmingham, Alabama.
But be aware that outdoor hanging plants require a little more attention. "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," says McCurry. Also, be sure to locate them in an area that won't impede foot traffic so people aren't running face-first into them.
Because You Can Never Have Too Many Plants:
Hoya
There are hundreds of different types of hoya, commonly known as wax plant because of their fleshy, waxy leaves.
Most of them do well in hanging baskets. This sturdy house plant prefers bright, indirect light. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Petunia
Technically a tender perennial, many modern petunia hybrids are grown as annuals in all USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. They'll bloom all summer long until a hard frost.
Look for low-maintenance varieties that don't need deadheading to keep the blooms coming, such as Supertunias.
Read more: USDA Updates Hardiness Zones
Boston Fern
Boston ferns are inexpensive, and they add so much texture and color to part-shade or full-shade spots in your garden. "I love the look of a hanging fern outdoors. The detail of the leaves as they unfurl is mesmerizing," says Melissa Lallo Johnson of @fancyflowerfarmer, a master gardener based in the Midwest.
If grown indoors as a houseplant, they can be a little fussier because they prefer high humidity levels, which is hard to replicate inside our homes, especially in winter. However, if given bright light, they can do fine. But be aware that they tend to drop fronds, so they're a little messy.
Bacopa
Bacopas look amazing tumbling out of window boxes and containers. They come in several different colors including blue, pink and white and make an excellent "spiller" plant, for mixed containers. They prefer full sun but will put up with afternoon shade, especially in very hot climates.
Read more: Best Container Gardening Ideas
Pothos
Pothos are one of the best indoor hanging plants to grow because they will tolerate a wide variety of light levels.
Although they prefer bright, indirect light, they will do fine in low light (but won't grow as quickly). Water only when the top few inches of soil feel dry because they don't like to stay wet.
There are many different varieties, including those with golden, white, or speckled foliage. But they're all easy to grow!
Read more: Here's How to Propagate Pothos into New Plants
Ivy Geranium
This plant is great for hot and sunny areas. The low-maintenance blooms should be deadheaded so that the flowers will keep coming all season long.
Related: The Best Window Box Planters to Spruce Up Your Home
Spider Plant
Spider plants have been a popular houseplant for decades because of their pretty, arching form and green and white or green, white and yellow foliage. Indoors, give them bright, indirect light, though they will adapt to low light levels. Keep the soil evenly moist.
Bonus: Snip off the baby "plantlets" that appear on long, arching stems and pot them up to make new plants.
Read more: How to Care for Spider Plants Like a Pro
Strawberries
Your favorite summertime treat makes the best fruit-forward desserts, but they're also easy to grow in hanging containers!
Strawberries need full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Planting them in hanging baskets also keeps them away from pesky chipmunks! (We have some ideas for getting rid of those pesky critters without harming 'em.)
Read more: How to Grow Strawberries.
Fuchsia
The exotic-looking flowers of these stunning outdoor plants attract tons of hummingbirds. Give fuchsia full shade, and keep them watered all season long. A dose of all-purpose fertilizer will keep blooms coming.
Read more: The Simplest Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Bluestar Fern
This fern has only become available more recently, but they're a must-have. You'll love displaying them indoors in a hanging basket. With long, blue-ish fronds and a delicate aura, they're much sturdier than picky Boston ferns. Give them bright, indirect light, and keep the soil slightly moist.
Begonia Boliviensis
These gorgeous begonias have arrow-shaped foliage and a profusion of brightly-colored flowers that bloom all summer long. Hummingbirds love them! They prefer part shade.
Staghorn Fern
This stunning fern looks amazing when mounted on wood or suspended in a hanging basket. Staghorn ferns need bright, indirect light and should be soaked weekly for 10 or 15 minutes to water them.
Read more: These Expert Staghorn Fern Tips Will Have Your Plant Thriving
Fan Flower
Fan flowers, also called scaevola, have the most striking fan-shaped flowers in shades of electric blue, pink, or white. They don't need to be deadheaded and are a tough plant for full sun conditions. They will bloom all summer until a hard frost.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums have a wonderful vining or climbing habit, but they also work cascading out of hanging baskets. They tolerate full sun to part shade. The lovely blooms and peppery leaves are also edible, so add them to salads or float the flowers in beverages for extra zing.
Read more: 15 Pretty Edible Flowers for Decorating Your Plates
String of Pearls
How cute are these plants? Aptly named, the long, dangling beads can reach several feet long. They're a must-have succulent for any brightly-lit indoor space. Water when mostly dry because they retain water, as all succulents do.
Calibrachoa
One of the best annuals for outdoor hanging baskets because of their long bloom time, calibrachoa never need to be deadheaded and will keep blooming and blooming! They also come in every color you can imagine from lemony yellow to hot pink. Give them full sun.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
As easy-care as pothos, these vining plants have glossy, green heart-shaped leaves. Heart leafs prefer bright, indirect light, but will tolerate low light--though they won't grow as quickly. Water only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Read more: 11 Philodendron Types Houseplant Lovers Find Easy to Grow
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum are an annual that tolerates both chilly spring and fall mornings and the heat of summer. Just keep these low-growing plants watered and they will bloom all summer long. They also attract tons of pollinators, and you'll love the sweet honey scent.
Burro's Tail
These sedums earns their name from the long, tail-like woven stems, which look stunning hanging from a pot or basket. Give them bright, indirect light, and, because they're succulents which retain water, water only when the top few inches of soil are dry.
Pansies and Violas
Sweet, little pansies and violas are the perfect spring and fall flowers. They'll fade in the heat of summer, but if sheared back, they may rebound in fall. They like full to part sun, and many types re-seed so they'll pop up in your garden again next spring.
Brasil Philodendron
A variation of heart leaf philodendron, these vining plants also boast heart-shaped leaves but with pale green and dark green splashes. It's really a charming effect in hanging baskets. Give them bright, indirect light and water only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Read more: Here's What You Need to Know about Philodendrons
Portulaca
If you have a spot that gets blazing-hot full sun, portulaca are up to the challenge! These flowering succulents come in electric-bright colors, and they can take the heat. They'll bloom all summer long. Water only when top few inches of soil in the hanging pots feels dry.
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