Outdoor baskets of hanging flowers are perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden design. In essence, they allow you to to fill under-appreciated overhead areas with gorgeous color and luscious scents.
There are tons of flowers that you can display in hanging basket, but the most suitable varieties are those that spill or drape down over the planter. If they offer a lovely fragrance as well as beauty, sitting beneath them on balmy summer evenings will be absolutely sublime. As an added bonus, some will even attract beneficial pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard.
Here are 21 of the most beautiful hanging flowers you can choose from:
1. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums—which means “nose-twister” in Latin—offer bright-colored five-petaled blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red. They grow quickly and are easy to care for in sun or partial shade, making them the perfect hanging flowers for beginners. Unlike many plants, these flowers prefer poor soil and you won’t need to fertilize often. Choose a trailing variety for a hanging basket, in either standard or dwarf sizes.
2. Lobelia
Lobelia flowers are small and smooth, and are excellent choices for containers or hanging baskets. These stunning cascading plants are popular for their stunning colors, which come in pink, white, purple, or blue. Expect your plants to bloom throughout the summer, and you may need to trim back the hanging shoots if they become unruly.
3. Calibrachoa
Also known as Million Bells, calibrachoas are petunia cousins that are great in hanging baskets. They’re more durable than their cousin when it comes to changing weather and fighting off diseases. Expect the plant to bloom throughout the summer and fall until the first frost in moderate climates or throughout the winter and spring in the tropics.
4. Petunias
Petunias are some of the most popular hanging flowers, and will sprout tons of blooms very rapidly. You can choose from several different varieties and colors, and they’re very fragrant in the evening. They even come in white and black varieties, which look stunning in the moonlight. Try incorporating black petunias in a Gothic garden, or white varieties in amongst other night-blooming species to glow in the moonlight.
5. Portulaca
Also known as sun or moss roses, portulacas are perfect for a hot and dry location. They require plenty of sunlight, and are a heat-loving, drought-tolerant option that’s perfect for the summer or dry regions. The greatest part about this plant is that the flowers will close if they’re not receiving enough sun. In addition, since these plants are so low-maintenance, all you need to do is water them occasionally and they’ll thrive.
6. Begonias
Begonias are a great alternative to fuchsias if you live in a humid, tropical location. When provided with plenty of sunlight and moist soil, the waxy blooms will grow quickly and easily. The Nonstop Mocca variety resembles roses, and some varieties do well in the shade. Just avoid overwatering these flowers or you’ll wind up with root rot.
7. Diascias
Short-lived diascias are annuals you can grow if you live in a warm location (zones 9-11). You may also find hardier varieties you can grow in zones 7 and 8 as well. The tiny, bright flowers cluster together and grow quickly in the summer and fall, making these delicate, unique plants perfect for any outdoor basket.
8. Geraniums
Popular hanging flowers, Geraniums are perfect for outdoor baskets. The flowers—which vary in color—cluster together and hang from vine-like limbs. They’re low-maintenance as well. Just make sure to provide a moderate amount of light, use well-draining soil, and be sure to water the plant deeply for the best results. Real geraniums are hardy perennials, but you may also find annuals similar called pelargoniums.
9. Verbenas
Verbenas are available in various colors, and are perfect hanging basket options for a south-facing area. The tiny flowers cluster together and bloom throughout the summer in colder locations, and are grown as perennials in tropical areas. They’ll survive the summer heat, and require well-drained soil and occasional watering.
10. Pansies
Humble, sweet little pansies are commonly seen around homes everywhere, and offer a ton of character to brighten up your garden. The petals come in stunning designs and bright colors, ideal for baskets and window boxes. Additionally, they’re easy for beginners to maintain, and they grow quickly with regular watering and moderate sunlight. In fact, if you deadhead them, you can even extend the amount of time they bloom.
11. Sweet Alyssums
Fragrant and beautiful sweet alyssum works well on any balcony or rooftop garden. The hanging flowers trail, which makes them great for hanging baskets, and the sweet honey scent will even attract helpful pollinators like bees and butterflies. You may need to trim back the trails to avoid the basket from becoming too shaggy though.
12. Lantanas
Long-blooming lantanas offer vibrant flower clusters that attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. For hanging baskets, select a small weeping variety that doesn’t come with seed-filled berries, such as the white or yellow Patriot Popcorn or the yellow, orange, and pink Patriot Rainbow.
13. Nemesias
Nemesias look like miniature pansies, and are easy annuals to grow in zones 9 and 10. These hardy perennials have gained in popularity in recent years because they come in a variety of colors, and are perfect for cool-season gardens. Try planting these flowers in hanging baskets alongside pansies during the fall or spring.
14. Black-Eyed Susan Vines
While not many vines grow well in hanging baskets, Black Eyed Susan Vines (Thunbergia alata) thrive in containers. These annuals boast vines of daisy-like flowers with black centers, which will spill over the sides of the baskets. They come in various shades of gold, red, white, and orange. Place them in full or part sun and the plants will bloom throughout the summer and fall. Even better, they thrive in zones 3 to 11 as either an annual or perennial.
15. Heliotrope
Heliotropes feature tiny blooms that grow in tight clusters, and the petals will offer a wide blend of color from blue to purple. These sweet-smelling hanging flowers are old-fashioned but have become widely more popular in recent years. Additionally, while some gardeners think heliotropes smell like vanilla, many other people associate their scent with cherry pie, baby powder, or even grapes. Choose these low-maintenance plants for summer and fall planters.
16. Scaevolas
Scaevolas are more commonly known as fan flowers. These gorgeous hanging flowers are perfect in mixed outdoor baskets with other plants, as the branches of tiny purple blossoms dangle downwards. The plants are heat and drought tolerant, making them perfect additions to your summer garden. Breeders have even created various colors and smaller, more compact options as well.
17. Signet Marigolds
Signet Marigoldss offer bold blooms in shades of orange, yellow, and red, and will blossom well into autumn. The fragrance is more citrusy than traditional marigolds, and they grow easily in full-sun locations with well-draining soil. Additionally, they repel bugs like mosquitoes and can help keep your vegetable crops safe. They’re even edible! Try eating the full blooms in a fruit salad or use the petals as a spicy garnish.
18. Water Hyssops
Water hyssop plants will grow well in hanging baskets because the flowers hang from long vines, and they feature pure white blooms that attract butterflies. This plant enjoys sunny locations with consistently moist soil, and it may offer tons of benefits for your skin, hair, and overall health.
19. Fuchsias
Fuchsias are some of my favorite flowers, and they’re perfect for outdoor baskets because their elegant flowers are inverted. The delicate blossoms display a range of extravagant hues, though most of them are bright pink or purple.
However, they’re a bit fussy and also easily infested with pests. Make sure to protect them from bugs and offer a location with plenty of sunlight and mist the plant daily with water. If you live in a cool, wet area, grow fuchsias in the shade as a perennial for the best results. Otherwise, look for a heat-resistant variety such as Jupiter, Astoria, or Surprise.
20. Lysimachias
Lysimachias have long stalks of bright and tiny star-shaped flowers, and absolutely adore damp grasslands or woodland areas near water. To care for the plants, keep the soil moist (but not too wet) and place the hanging basket in full sun or partial shade. Just take note that some species can be invasive. They’re commonly grown at the edge of ponds or as garden borders, but they’ll also do well in a hanging basket to keep the plant from spreading too much.
21. Impatiens
Impatiens are adorable and come in a wide variety of colors. They require little care, but they may grow better in an indoor hanging basket. They’re delicate, which is why the flowers were nicknamed “touch-me-nots.” They’ll grow well in moist soil with moderate sun, as long as you make sure to remember watering them regularly. Otherwise, the plants will begin to shed their foliage.
