We used to buy those giant pre-planted hanging baskets from the nursery every spring, only to watch them crisp up and die by July. It took a few seasons of expensive mistakes to figure out which plants actually survive a suspended pot.
These are the ones we constantly rely on.
1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
This is the ultimate confidence builder for beginners. It vines down beautifully and handles missed waterings like a champion. Joanna keeps three of these hanging in her living room, and they trail almost to the floor now. Honestly, this is the one we recommend most if you constantly kill houseplants.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Classic for a reason. The arching leaves look great from below, and they push out tiny “pups” that dangle on long stems. Just give it bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings (cheaper than you’d think). You can just snip off the babies and root them in water to make free plants.
3. Fuchsia
Nothing beats these for shady porches. The drooping, bell-shaped flowers look almost tropical and attract hummingbirds all summer long. They need constantly moist soil to keep flowering. Skip this one if you live in a painfully hot, dry climate. They just can’t take the heat.
4. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
Looks like a cascading necklace of green peas. It prefers to be ignored and only needs water when the pearls start looking slightly squishy. I hung one in my south-facing window last winter and it easily doubled in length. The trick is to water from the bottom so the pearls on top don’t rot.
5. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Huge and dramatic. The fronds spill over the edges to hide the pot completely. They drop dry leaves if the air gets too dry, so keep a spray bottle nearby. We use these on the shaded end of the patio alongside other flowers that come back every year.
Now for the ones that need full sun to perform.
6. Petunias
The heavy hitters of summer color. They spill out over the edges and bloom non-stop if you keep up with the water. Just pinch off the dead flowers once a week to keep the new ones coming. A heavy rain might beat them up a bit, but they bounce back fast.
7. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Practically sculptural. The thick, overlapping leaves form heavy trailing stems that can grow three feet long. Christina knocked hers over while watering last month and lost two huge branches. The leaves fall off super easily, so hang it somewhere you won’t bump into it.
8. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Like tiny petunias but way less maintenance. They drop their own dead flowers, so you don’t have to pinch them. I love mixing three different colors in a single basket for a huge impact. They handle the summer heat surprisingly well.
9. Heartleaf Philodendron
Dead simple to grow. It looks a lot like a pothos but the leaves are slightly softer and more distinctly heart-shaped. It grows well in low light corners where most other plants just give up (trust me on this one). Just don’t overwater it and you’re good to go.
10. Lobelia
Creates a huge cloud of tiny blue or white flowers. It trails perfectly over the edge of a basket and looks delicate. Just keep it out of the harsh afternoon sun or it’ll burn up completely. We usually hang these under the porch eaves.
11. Tradescantia Zebrina (Inch Plant)
The metallic purple and silver stripes catch the light beautifully from a hanging basket. It grows ridiculously fast. You can just snap off a piece, stick it back in the dirt, and it roots in days. Plus, the underside of the leaves is a bright magenta.
12. Sweet Alyssum
Smells like honey. It forms a dense, cascading mat of tiny white flowers that pollinators flock to. We always tuck these around the edges of our small space tomato containers, but they do great suspended on their own.
13. Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida)
Totally bizarre. It drops these long, fuzzy red catkins that look like caterpillars hanging from the pot. It needs high humidity and plenty of water to keep looking good. It definitely starts conversations when friends come over.
14. Begonias
Perfect for that spot that only gets morning sun. The waxy leaves hold up well, and the trailing varieties cascade nicely down the sides. Don’t let water sit on the leaves to avoid powdery mildew. They look great all the way until the first frost.
15. Strawberries
Not just for the garden bed. Everbearing varieties drop runners that hang down over the edges and produce fruit all season. It keeps the berries away from bugs on the ground, just like when you grow strawberries in window boxes.
Start With Just One
You don’t need a greenhouse full of hanging plants to make an impact. Pick a basket that matches your light situation and get it hung up this weekend. Keep the watering can handy, watch how it grows, and see what happens.