Horticulturists Love Using These 27 Plants In Hanging Baskets: Mix And Match Them

Whether they’re mounted on a fence, suspended from a trellis, or bordering your doorway, hanging baskets are one of the most stylish ways to display plants in your garden and provide interest at eye level.

So what should you plant in them? There are hundreds of species that are suitable to be grown in hanging baskets, ranging from colourful flowers and bedding plants – to shrubs, evergreens and trailing climbers.

You can stick to one genus of plants, or you can plant a mixture, to achieve a more varied and multi-coloured look.

If you’re doing this, you should also take into account the different flowering periods and care requirements for each of your plants.

According to a study by researchers at the University of Kentucky, the most commonly used plants for hanging baskets include Geraniums, Fuchsia, Begonia, Calibrachoa (Million Bells), Impatiens, Petunia and Verbena.¹Kaiser, C., & Ernst, M. (2020, July). Hanging Baskets. University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/hangingbaskets.pdf

We cover each of these below in more detail, as well as twenty other choices.

1) Petunia

Petunias are one of the most popular flowers to plant in hanging baskets – and for good reason.

These pretty flowers bloom well, and come in a wide range of colours, from pink and purple, to yellow and black.

Cascading varieties such as Surfinia will fill and flow over the edge of baskets, creating a full look.

Trailing petunias are easy to care for – just hang baskets in locations with full sunlight, water frequently, and make sure the basket has at least one hole for drainage.

2) Begonia

If your hanging baskets are in a partially shaded location, begonias can make for an excellent choice.

Begonia ‘Million Kisses’ series is a trailing variety, ideally suited to hanging basket growth.

These autumnal-coloured flowers will bloom throughout summer and into autumn.

Be careful not to overwater your begonias, as they are susceptible to root rot.

3) Fuchsia

Bright pink and purple fuchsias are another popular choice.

They flower continuously from mid-summer until the first frosts, and their pendant-shaped blooms will give your hanging baskets a tropical look.

Choose a small, hardy variety, and plant in your basket in early summer.

Keep them in a sunny or partially shaded location, and water the basket twice a week to keep it moist, but not waterlogged.

4) Sweet Pea

Most sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are annual climbing vines, with small, showy flowers that are known for their sweet scent.

Dwarf climbing varieties are the best choice for hanging baskets – their trailing vines will cascade over the sides. The ‘Sweetie Mix’ have been bred to trail.

Sweet peas prefer full sun or dappled shade.

Make sure to deadhead them regularly throughout the growing season, to encourage new flowers.

5) Million Bells

The ‘Million Bells’ series are trailing annuals from the Calibrachoa genus.

Their small, petunia-like flowers range from pink to yellow to blue and grow densely and abundantly throughout summer and autumn.

They can thrive in hanging baskets, as long as they have good drainage, and prefer a sunny, sheltered location.

6) Geranium

Fill your hanging pots or baskets with bold geraniums (Pelargonium) to add a splash of bright colour to the exterior of your home.

These evergreen perennials can have red, pink, purple, orange or white flowers. 

Geraniums love the warmth and will thrive best in a sunny spot.

They do not fare well in frost, so you will either need to bring them inside over winter or replace them each year.

7) Lantana

Lantana can be an evergreen or perennial shrub and is characterised by its wrinkly leaves and clusters of small flowers approximately 1cm wide.

It grows well in hanging baskets and containers, providing they have good access to sunlight, and the soil is kept moist, but well-drained.

Bring it inside or into a greenhouse during winter, to protect it from frost.

8) Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) gets its name from the dark brown conical disk at the centre of its orange or yellow flowers.

This climbing vine flowers in late summer and early autumn, so plant it alongside an earlier-flowering plant if you want your basket to bloom for a longer.

It does get very large, so the alternative is to get it the freedom to fill out for a larger-than-life display. 

9) Lobelia

Lobelia is an annual flowering plant with neat, compact foliage, and flowers that are usually blue, purple or white.

It grows best in hanging baskets that are in full sunlight and prefers moist but well-drained soil.

Add a liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks during the flowering period to encourage growth.

Cutting them back by around a half after their first flush of blooms can also keep them tidy and floriferous.

10) Nasturtium

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual climber with simple lobed leaves and funnel-shaped flowers of red, orange or yellow.

It makes a great trailing plant in a hanging basket.

Grow in full sunlight and poor soil for the best results, as too many nutrients will encourage the growth of foliage, instead of flowers.

11) Portulaca

Portulaca is known for its needle-like foliage, as well as its colourful, cup-shaped flowers.

Other names for it include rose moss and sun plant – it’s not surprising then that it prefers the sun.

Place it in a south-facing location, and the tropical blooms in red, pink, purple and yellow will add a summery feel to your garden.

12) Lotus Vine

Lotus vine is also called fire vine, or parrot’s beak, thanks to its unusually-shaped red and orange flowers.

A member of the pea family Fabaceae, this trailing vine makes a great addition to a hanging basket, where it will cascade over the edge.

The blooms are short-lived, but the fine, bluish-green foliage is attractive in itself.

13) Sweet Alyssum

Another trailing plant that looks fabulous cascading from a hanging basket is sweet alyssum.

Thread the shoots of this bushy plant carefully through the slits in your hanging basket to create a more full-bodied effect.

The plant produces racemes of small and fragrant flowers, that will enrich your outside space.

14) Viola

Viola can be annuals, biennials or perennials, and feature clumps of distinctive, 5-petalled flowers.

Colours range from blue and purple, to yellow and pink, often with a contrasting eye.

These are another sweet-smelling flower, so perfect for placing in hanging baskets at nose level.

Grow in nutrient-rich, moist soil, with good drainage.

They’re useful for autumn, winter and early spring displays.

15) Pansy

Part of the viola genus, pansies are another highly popular choice for hanging baskets in the UK.

These annual flowering plants flower profusely and produce blooms in a wide range of colours – deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.

They’re also a good option for winter hanging baskets.

16) Primrose

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) is a symbol of springtime and makes a bright and uplifting addition to your garden.

The flowers are usually yellow and form in clusters on leaf rosettes.

They are vulnerable to pests, including aphids, slugs and glasshouse red spider mite, so make sure to keep a close eye on them.

Once it’s time to refresh your hanging basket for summer, transplant them into the ground for a display the following year.

17) Tomatoes

Of course, it’s not only flowering plants that are suitable for hanging baskets – you can also grow herbs and edible plants, such as cherry tomatoes.

Select a suitable variety, such as ‘Tumbling Tom Red.’

Place the tomato plant in the centre of the basket, and make sure to keep it well-watered.

Hang it in a sunny location in your garden (wait until May or June to plant, to avoid the risk of frost).

18) Tulips

If you want to grow a larger flower in your hanging baskets, tulips are a great option.

These popular blooms produce vivid colours early in the year, so they’re suitable for winter hanging baskets – plant your bulbs in October or November, and your baskets will be filled with beautiful red, yellow and pink tulips come spring.

Grow in fertile soil, in a sunny location.

“I would select a miniature variety, with cup-shaped blooms, as the more open flowers will not be seen unless you can levitate above your basket!” says Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish.

“Tulipa linifolia ‘Bronze Charm’ works well, especially paired with blue violas.”

19) Fairy Rose

This pretty, pale pink dwarf rose variety is perfect if you want to include roses in your hanging basket, as the flowers grow in small sprays, and don’t reach more than 2.5cm wide.

For the best blooms, position your basket in full sun, plant in fertile soil, and apply liquid fertiliser in spring and summer.

20) Verbena

Verbena can be annuals or perennials, and usually have small flowers with 5 petals, on toothed leaves.

The flowers come in a wide range of colours, from cool blues and purples to hot pinks and reds, as shown here.

They pair well with other plants in hanging baskets and will attract desirable pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, into your garden.

21) Lavender

Upright lavender makes an excellent choice for the centre of a hanging basket.

This perennial plant is characterised by its purple flowers and distinctive fragrance – you can expect blooms from late spring until mid-summer.

Lavender is ideal for country cottages and modern gardens alike.

I find French Lavender is easier to keep compact, and therefore fits well in hanging baskets.

22) Clematis

Clematis is a hugely popular plant for UK gardens and is suitable for hanging baskets.

There are many different varieties, each with different sizes, flower colours and flowering periods – it’s best to choose a small, compact variety for container growth.

“The compact Clematis ‘Bijou’ would be my pick,” adds Peter.

23) Spider Plant

Spider plants make for another popular and attractive hanging basket plant.

They are tender plants and are therefore usually grown inside as house plants, but they can be placed outside if the conditions are right.

Move your spider plant outside during periods of warm, dry weather, and then bring it inside when it gets cold.

24) Diascia

Diascia’s cup-shaped flowers are usually various shades of pink, and make an excellent way to add colour to your garden during summer.

They prefer full sun, so try to find them a south-facing spot, and keep soil moist, but well-drained.

25) Impatiens

Impatiens produce sprays of spurred flowers in all colours.

They are easy to grow and can flourish in partially shaded locations, as long as they are sheltered from the wind.

Some protection from the rain is also appreciated, as the flowers are susceptible to grey mould in damp growing conditions.

26) Million Hearts

With its cascading foliage, Million Hearts (Dischidia ruscifolia) will add lush greenery to your hanging basket display.

This is another one that fairs well in partial shade, and it’s also tolerant to drought, so you don’t need to panic if you forget to water it.

It’s tender, but could be added to a summer display.

27) Ivy

Last but not least, ivy makes a good-looking and easy addition to a hanging basket.

This climber grows well in a variety of conditions, including full sun and shade, and can tolerate most soil types.

The ‘Pittsburgh’ cultivar is compact and particularly suited to container growth.

References

• 1
  Kaiser, C., & Ernst, M. (2020, July). Hanging Baskets. University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/hangingbaskets.pdf