The best plants for hanging baskets

Feel like a basket case when it comes to hanging baskets? After reading this article, you’ll get the hang of it in no time! 

Hanging baskets hold some unique abilities. They make efficient use of space, elevate the viewer’s gaze through their vertical beauty, and create a ‘wow’ factor. 

Read on to learn how to set up your hanging basket, choose plants for sunny and shady locations, and care for your hanging basket plants. 

Choosing your Hanging Basket

There’s no shortage of shapes and sizes to choose from when it comes to hanging baskets. As far as material is concerned, we recommend wire. Plastic containers, although inexpensive and lightweight, lack the durability of wire baskets. 

Bear in mind that hanging baskets dry out faster than their grounded counterparts. To help slow down the drying-out process, line the bottom with a piece of plastic with holes. 

Choosing Your Hanging Plants

Take your pick from annuals and perennials – and don’t forget to include foliage plants! While your blooms are taking a break, foliage plants can take center stage with their season-long colors and textures. 

It’s important to remember that showy flowers require several hours of sunlight, whereas colorful foliage plants prefer shaded locations. 

When it comes to planning and designing your hanging basket, be sure to include these plant types:

• a thriller (dramatic and tall; examples include Cosmos, Salvia, and ornamental grasses)

• a filler (rounded/mounded in shape and covers bare soil; examples include Begonias, Coleus, and Lantanas)

• and a spiller (cascades over the sides of the basket; examples include Nasturtium, Sweet Potato vine, and Trailing Lobelia)

Setting Up Your Hanging Basket

Fill your basket with a good-quality potting mix. Be sure to leave at least an inch of space between the top of the basket and the soil to avoid water run-off while watering your plants. 

Play with the arrangement of your plants (while they remain in their pots) until you’re satisfied with the look. Remove the plants from their pots and plant, packing soil around them to fill any gaps. 

Give the plants a good soak, and then carefully lift the basket. Pause here and get a feel for the weight. That weight will act as a reference for when the basket has been watered. 

Now, hang up your basket! 

Watering & Feeding Your Hanging Basket

Watering frequency will depend on the season, the location of the hanging basket, and plant types. During summer, be prepared to water your hanging baskets every day if they’re out in the sun.  

If your plants are tightly crowded, they’ll require more frequent watering sessions. Drought-tolerant plants and succulents will tolerate dry soil for a longer time. 

Use a long-handled water wand to water your hanging basket. Avoid blasting it with water. Instead, give it a gentle soak to expand the soil and increase the plants’ ability to take in moisture.

Come mid-season if your plants look a bit tired, feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer once a week.

Maintaining Your Hanging Basket

Keep your hanging baskets looking fresh and tidy by deadheading flowers at least once a week. Prune any foliage that has grown leggy, and rotate the basket to give that area more sunlight. 

Sun-loving Flowers for Hanging Baskets

Zinnia

Many Zinnia varieties grow into lovely mounds that are covered in heat-resistant, long-lasting blooms. This plant makes a nice filler.

Lantana

Lantanas make stunning mounding plants that have small clusters of jewel-hued blossoms. They are drought-resistant and love the sun.

Verbena

A vibrant annual that can withstand dryness, Verbena blooms in a variety of colors, from peach and lime green to pink and purple.

Lobelia

Lobelia's well-known true blue flowers and emerald green foliage will stand out in any hanging basket. They will extend and cascade down the basket's side.

Wave Petunia

Showy with abundant blooms, Wave Petunias are vigorous growers and will dramatically tumble over baskets. Plant them in a single color or combine them with their various other colors to make an eye-catching arrangement. 

Another perk is they don’t require any deadheading to look fantastic! 

 

Shade-Loving Plants for Hanging Baskets

Here are some shade-loving plants that thrive with less than 4 hours of sunlight, including:

Coleus 

Although there are sun-loving varieties of Coleus, they are still known as a shade plant. They give any basket magnificent color and texture.

Impatiens

Due to their abundance of vibrant colors and ongoing blooms, Impatiens are the preferred plant for shaded gardens.

Begonias

Begonias bloom all summer long. The waxy leaves can be glossy green or bronze, while the blooms are typically red, white, or pink. The gorgeous camellia-like flowers and green or nearly black foliage are features of tuberous begonias. They can cascade from one to two feet.

Fucshia

Perhaps the prima donna of these hanging basket flowers is the Fuchsia. They’re heavy feeders and require half-strength fertilizer each time they’re watered. Keep them evenly moist and shield them from the hot afternoon sun, and they’ll happily summon the hummingbirds for you.