Hanging baskets are one of the easiest ways to add colour and interest to a garden, patio or balcony. Whether you’re looking for tumbling flowers, fragrant blooms or low-maintenance greenery, the right plants can transform an ordinary basket into a stunning display that lasts all summer.
The secret is choosing plants with a naturally trailing or cascading habit. These spill gracefully over the edges of the basket, creating the full, overflowing look seen in professional garden displays.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best plants for hanging baskets, including colourful annuals, long-flowering favourites and pollinator-friendly blooms.
If you’re new to container gardening, don’t worry—many of these plants are surprisingly easy to grow.
Quick Picks
🌸 Best Overall: Petunia
💜 Best for Colour: Calibrachoa
🌿 Best Low Maintenance: Lobelia
🐝 Best for Pollinators: Verbena
🌤 Best for Shade: Fuchsia
🌺 Longest Flowering: Begonia
At a Glance
| Plant | Full Sun | Partial Shade | Pollinator Friendly | Beginner Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petunia | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Calibrachoa | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Lobelia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Fuchsia | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Verbena | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Bacopa | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Bidens | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Ivy Geranium | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Sweet Alyssum | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Trailing Begonia | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Nasturtium | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Diascia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Trailing Pansy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Million Bells | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| String of Pearls | ✅ |
1. Petunia
Petunias are arguably the classic hanging basket flower. Their vigorous trailing stems quickly spill over the edges, producing hundreds of trumpet-shaped blooms throughout summer.
Available in almost every colour imaginable, they’re perfect for brightening patios, balconies and front doors.
Best for
- Full sun
- Long-lasting colour
- Beginners
Top tip: Feed every week or two with a flowering fertiliser for the biggest display.
Want one?
👉 Browse live Petunia plants on Amazon (affiliate)
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Related reading
👉 15 Flowers That Bloom All Summer in Pots
2. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Often called Million Bells, Calibrachoa looks like a miniature Petunia but produces hundreds of tiny flowers that cover the plant for months.
Unlike older Petunia varieties, many modern Calibrachoas don’t need deadheading.
Best for
- Hanging baskets
- Window boxes
- Sunny patios
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3. Lobelia
Lobelia creates soft waterfalls of blue, purple, pink or white flowers that beautifully soften the edges of baskets.
Its compact growth makes it an excellent companion to larger flowering plants.
Best for
- Mixed baskets
- Partial shade
- Cottage gardens
Top tip: Trim lightly if flowering slows during very hot weather.
4. Fuchsia
If your baskets spend much of the day in shade, Fuchsias are difficult to beat.
Their elegant dangling flowers bloom continuously from early summer until the first frosts.
Best for
- Shade
- Hanging baskets
- Front doors
Want one?
👉 Browse live Fuchsia plants on Amazon (affiliate)
5. Verbena
Verbena produces colourful flower clusters loved by bees and butterflies.
Trailing varieties cascade beautifully over baskets while flowering for months.
Best for
- Pollinator gardens
- Sunny baskets
6. Bacopa
Bacopa produces masses of tiny white, pink or blue flowers that gently tumble over the sides of baskets.
It’s often used to soften mixed arrangements and flowers almost continuously.
Best for
- Mixed baskets
- Soft romantic displays
7. Bidens
Bright yellow daisy-like flowers make Bidens a cheerful addition to any hanging basket.
They’re drought tolerant once established and flower for months.
8. Ivy Geranium
Unlike upright Geraniums, Ivy Geraniums trail beautifully, making them perfect for baskets.
They’re especially good in hot sunny positions.
Want one?
👉 Browse live Ivy Geraniums on Amazon (affiliate)
9. Sweet Alyssum
Tiny fragrant flowers cover Sweet Alyssum for months while attracting bees and beneficial insects.
It’s perfect around the basket edges.
10. Trailing Begonia
For shady patios and covered porches, trailing Begonias provide outstanding colour with very little maintenance.
11. Nasturtium
Nasturtiums tumble beautifully while producing edible flowers and leaves.
They’re both ornamental and practical.
Related reading
👉 15 Best Plants to Grow for Baking
12. Diascia
Diascia’s delicate flowers create a relaxed cottage garden feel and continue blooming throughout summer.
13. Trailing Pansy
Pansies aren’t just for spring.
Trailing varieties continue producing cheerful flowers for many months.
14. Million Bells
If you love baskets absolutely overflowing with colour, Million Bells deserve a place in your garden.
They bloom relentlessly with very little maintenance.
15. String of Pearls
Not every hanging basket needs flowers.
String of Pearls creates a stunning cascading display indoors or in warm outdoor climates.
Its unusual bead-like leaves make it one of the most distinctive trailing succulents available.
How to Create a Stunning Hanging Basket
Professional-looking baskets usually combine three types of plants:
Thriller
One upright focal plant.
Filler
Bushy flowering plants that fill the middle.
Spiller
Trailing plants that cascade over the edge.
Combining all three creates baskets that look full from every angle.
Best Containers for Hanging Baskets
Different baskets suit different plants.
Affiliate opportunities:
- Wire hanging basket
- Coco liners
- Self-watering hanging baskets
- Liquid flowering fertiliser
- Slow-release fertiliser
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the easiest hanging basket plants?
Petunias, Calibrachoa, Lobelia and Ivy Geraniums are all excellent beginner choices.
Which hanging basket plants flower all summer?
Petunias, Calibrachoa, Begonias, Fuchsias and Verbena all produce flowers for several months.
What grows best in hanging baskets?
Trailing annuals, compact perennials and cascading succulents all perform well depending on the location.
Which hanging basket plants like shade?
Fuchsias, Begonias and Lobelia all tolerate partial shade much better than Petunias.
How often should hanging baskets be watered?
During hot weather, baskets often need watering every day because they dry out much faster than plants growing in the ground.
Final Thoughts
Hanging baskets are one of the quickest ways to add colour, height and personality to your garden. Whether you prefer classic Petunias, elegant Fuchsias or fragrant Sweet Alyssum, there’s a plant to suit every style and every level of gardening experience.
Mix trailing plants with upright varieties, feed them regularly and keep the compost moist, and you’ll enjoy beautiful displays that last from late spring until the first frosts.
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You might also enjoy:
🌸 15 Flowers That Bloom All Summer in Pots
🍓 Best Fruits to Grow in Containers
🌿 15 Best Plants to Grow for Baking
🐝 Best Plants for Pollinators (coming soon)