Do you have a spot on your patio or backyard you want to decorate with a hanging plant? Or maybe, it is just a window with too much sun for your houseplants. If so, then you are in the right place. Putting together hanging plants in baskets is a lot of fun. They are an excellent way to cover your fences and walls, creating a striking first impression at the front of a house. However, the catch is that not all hanging plants can survive in full sun.
Hanging baskets are popular housewarming gifts, making ideal decorations for porches, patios, and decks.
Areas of your home with more than eight to ten hours of full sun can often be too harsh for most hanging plants. If you plant the wrong hanging plants in sunny spots, the sunlight will scorch them, and they will lose their color and vigor. Thankfully, many hanging plants can survive in full sun and extensive sunlight hours. Examples include Geraniums, Petunias, Lobelias, Sedums, and Nasturtiums.
Also, think local when choosing a plant for a basket in full sun. Plants native to your region will give you the best results. Nevertheless, let’s start with the blog.
Types Of Hanging Plants
An excellent hanging plant basket setup includes a central thriller and a few spillers with many fillers.
Before we discuss the list of ideal plants for baskets in sunny spots, let’s quickly go over a few terms that describe different types of hanging plants. With hanging baskets, you have many options. And you may fall in love with a plant that isn’t meant for you!
So, here are a few types of hanging plants to help you make an educated decision.
Spillers
Spillers are precisely what they sound like, i.e., hanging plants that spill over the edges of a hanging basket and add a vertical dimension to the basket arrangement. Spillers in baskets can also create a more true-to-life look and soften the boundaries of their container.
Examples include trailing petunias, lobelia, ivy, and sweet potato vine.
Fillers
Fillers are hanging plants that fill a hanging plant basket’s lower or middle portion. In hanging basket plant arrangements, fillers are often placed to complement the colors and textures of the other plants in the collection and create an overall lush and complete look.
Common examples of filler plants include marigolds, zinnias, impatiens, and coleus.
Thrillers
Thrillers are plants selected for height, upright growth habit, and dramatic visual impact. They are often placed near the center of a hanging plant arrangement to create a focal point. Also, thrillers often have exhilarating foliage, striking flowers, or unique textures.
Some examples of thrillers are ornamental grasses, geraniums, and tall salvias.
All in all, experiment with different plants and do not just stick to the annuals. Some tender perennials are also perfect for use in hanging baskets. And, all your hanging plants do not need to be flowers. Foliage plants can also be the stars of the show.
Now, without further ado, let’s move on to our list.
Best Hanging Baskets For Full Sun
Below are our favorite plants for hanging baskets in the sun. Some of them are annuals, while others are perennials. Moreover, to help you pick the best plant for your region, we have also mentioned the ideal USDA Hardiness Zones where these plants grow the best.
1. Ornamental Grasses
Fiber Optic Grass: An eye-catching sedge with silvery heads, making it seem like a tuft of fiber optic threads.
Overview
Hanging baskets filled with ornamental grasses can easily make a great center stage in outdoor living areas and are an excellent choice for sunny spots around a home. There are many types of ornamental grasses that you can grow in hanging baskets to decorate your balcony, patio, window, backyard, or garden. Examples include Feather Reed Grass, Japanese Forest Grass, Maiden Grass, Fountain Grass, and Fiber Optic Grass.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Ornamental Grass | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Feather Reed Grass | Green, Tan | 4-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide | 4-9 | Pinkish-purple plumes in summer | Narrow, upright, green foliage |
| Japanese Forest Grass | Green, Golden | 1-3 feet tall and wide | 5-9 | None | Arching, fine-textured foliage in green or golden hues |
| Maiden Grass | Green, Copper | 6-8 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide | 5-9 | Silvery or pinkish-white plumes in fall | Tall, narrow leaves in green or copper hues |
| Fountain Grass | Green, Tan | 2-3 feet tall and wide | 5-9 | Pinkish-white, bottlebrush-like spikes in summer | Arching, finely-textured foliage in green or bronze hues |
2. Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines
Ornamental sweet potato vines are a classic “spiller” plant for basket gardening.
Overview
Grown and cared for like regular ornamental plants, the Sweet Potato Vines add something extra to the hanging basket collection in your home or patio. In a container, the vines will quickly flow over the edges. And you can trim them quickly if they start running wild and taking over. Furthermore, sweet potato vines are easy to grow and care for and perfect for an eye-catching, trailing display in hanging baskets and flower pots.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Blackie(Ipomoea batatas) | Deep Purple | 6-8 inches tall and 3-6 feet wide | 10-11 | None | Heart-shaped leaves in deep purple color |
| Margarita (Ipomoea batatas) | Chartreuse Green | 6-8 inches tall and 3-6 feet wide | 10-11 | None | Heart-shaped leaves in chartreuse green color |
| Sweet Caroline (Ipomoea batatas) | Various (e.g., Red, Green, Bronze, etc.) | 6-12 inches tall and 3-6 feet wide | 10-11 | None | Heart-shaped leaves in various colors depending on the variety |
3. Maui Wormwood
Soft, lovely, silvery, lacy, and feathery foliage is the hallmark of this accent plant par excellence.
Overview
Sometimes called woodworm or mugwort, Mauei wormwood is a woody shrubby perennial known for its scented, silvery, feathery, and lacy foliage and its tolerance for growing in pool soil and weather conditions. It naturally holds its shape and is sometimes used as a natural hedge. If you are looking for flowers, the blooms appear ear the summer and are small and yellow. However, they are not very showy and colorful.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Maui Wormwood (Artemisia australis ‘Mauiensis’) | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Maui Wormwood | Silver-grey | 1-2 feet tall and wide | 8 to10 | Insignificant flowers in summer | Fine-textured, silver-grey foliage with a mounding, trailing habit |
4. Lantanas
Lantanas are low-growing, spreading plants with lavender, purple or white flowers.
Overview
A low-maintenance bloomer that opens its colorful and gorgeous blossoms steadily during the growing season, and if you live in a warm area, you might enjoy its flowers all year round. Furthermore, lantanas are easy to care for, and depending on the type grown, lantanas can be treated as annuals or perennials. Their unique vine-like sprawling appearance makes them popular to plant as ground covers and in outdoor hanging baskets as, unlike other ornamental plants, they can survive the full sun for long hours.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Lantana Cultivar | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| ‘Miss Huff’ (Lantana camara ‘Miss Huff’) | Yellow and Orange | 6-8 feet tall and wide | 7-11 | Clusters of tiny flowers that start red, yellow, and turn orange in summer and fall | Rough, textured leaves that are typically green but may have a purplish tint |
| ‘Dallas Red’ (Lantana camara ‘Dallas Red’) | Red, Yellow, and Orange | 1-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide | 8-11 | ||
| ‘Chapel Hill Yellow’ (Lantana camara ‘Chapel Hill Yellow’) | Yellow | 3-4 feet tall and wide | 7-11 | Clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers in summer and fall |
5. Asparagus Fern
Asparagus fern looks elegant in hanging baskets with long wiry stems and lovely frond-like sprays.
Overview
Asparagus ferns are not ferns but members of the lily family, and they come from the humid forests of southern Africa. They get their name from their delicate and airy foliage that looks arches gracefully, like a fern and like the leaves of asparagus. But fern or not, these plants make excellent specimens for hanging baskets in full sun. The asparagus fern, under the right conditions, can also sometimes flower. However, the flowers are tiny and white and not necessarily a significant source of attraction in front of their unique foliage.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Asparagus Fern | Bright Green | 1-4 feet tall and wide | 9-11 | Small, white, or pinkish flowers in summer, followed by small, red berries | Delicate, lacy, bright green leaves that grow on thin stems and form a bushy, trailing habit |
RELATED: Decorate Your Home and Garden With Amazing 23 Types of Fern Species
6. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are used to adorn fences and walls and have long flowering periods.
Overview
Nasturtium flowers can give your hanging basket in the window a casual, cottage-garden vibe. Their trailing and climbing varieties look stunning when sprawling over the ground of a rock garden, tumbling out of a window from a hanging basket, and beautifully climbing a fence or hedge. But nasturtiums aren’t just pretty.
You can use them as a companion plant and a trap to draw aphids and other garden pests away from your other valuable flowers and vegetables.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Nasturtium Cultivar | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| ‘Alaska’ (Tropaeolum majus ‘Alaska’) | White and Yellow | 8-12 inches tall and wide | 2-11 | Showy flowers with a white base and a yellow center in summer and fall | Round, shield-shaped leaves that are marbled green and white |
| ‘Empress of India’ (Tropaeolum majus ‘Empress of India’) | Dark Red | 12-18 inches tall and wide | 2-11 | Showy, funnel-shaped flowers with deep crimson-red petals in summer and fall | Round, shield-shaped leaves that are dark green with a slight blue tint |
| ‘Moonlight’ (Tropaeolum majus ‘Moonlight’) | Creamy Yellow | 8-12 inches tall and wide | 2-11 | Showy, funnel-shaped flowers with a pale, creamy yellow hue in summer and fall | Round, shield-shaped leaves that are bright green and may have a slightly wavy edge |
7. Pansies & Violas
Pansies originated from violas, so technically, all pansies are violas but not all violas as pansies.
Overview
Pansies and Violas are arguably the best of all the plants you can plant in your hanging basket for the fall or winter color. They both provide months of cheerful and pretty flowers and do remarkably well in the cooler months. Both create a stunning overflow effect in hanging baskets and pots. All you have to do is position them near the edge, and you are good to go. And, even though they can take long hours of sun, they fade in the summer.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) | Various (e.g., Blue, Purple, Yellow, White, etc.) | 6-9 inches tall and wide | 4-8 | Showy, five-petaled flowers with a “face” in shades of blue, purple, yellow, white, and other colors | Heart-shaped, slightly fuzzy leaves on short stems |
| Viola (Viola cornuta) | Various (e.g., Blue, Purple, Yellow, White, etc.) | 4-8 | Showy, five-petaled flowers in shades of blue, purple, yellow, white, and other colors | Small, heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges |
8. Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Black-eyed Susan can grow to 8 feet long and looks stunning in hanging baskets in the sun.
Overview
If you are unfamiliar with black-eyed Susan vine, you are missing out on a lot. And it is time to learn how this versatile vine can work wonders in your hanging plant collection. It is such a plant that can solve many garden challenges (in this, survive for long hours in full sun) while looking gorgeous simultaneously. Moreover, this flowering vine is as easy to care for and is a quick grower, filling and hanging from the containers in no time.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) | Various (e.g., Orange, Yellow, White) | 6-8 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide | 9-11 | Showy, trumpet-shaped flowers with a black or dark center, blooming in summer and fall | Heart-shaped leaves with toothed edges arranged alternately along the stems. |
9. Vinca
Annual vinca is commonly grown as an ornamental and found in many gardens worldwide.
Overview
The glossy green leaves and clear, crisp flowers of annual vinca are so perfect that some people are tempted to rub them to see if they are real. These stunning plants are native to Madagascar and make excellent hanging plants for sunny spots. If you have not included vincas in your plant collection, you should check them out. These drought-tolerant hanging plants thrive in any soil type and survive with little care and effort.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Vinca (Catharanthus roseus) | Various (e.g., Pink, White, Red, Purple) | 1-2 feet tall and wide | 10-11 | Showy, five-petaled, star-shaped flowers blooming in summer and fall | Glossy, oval-shaped leaves arranged oppositely along the stems with slightly wavy edges |
10. Verbenas
If you want to attract pollinators all summer, verbenas are one of the go plants.
Overview
Verbenas are primarily native to South America and tend to be short-lived. However, what they lack in time, they make up with an abundance of nectar-rich flowers. Vibrant, versatile, and vigorous verbenas are one of my favorite flowers for adding to the baskets of hanging plants in the sunny spots of a home. Furthermore, verbenas are moderately fast-growing plants that reach full size in a few weeks if grown under the right conditions.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Homestead Purple Verbena | Purple | 1-2 feet tall and wide | 6-10 | Showy, small, five-petaled flowers blooming in spring, summer, and fall | Toothed, oval-shaped leaves that are usually arranged oppositely along the stems and may have a slightly fuzzy texture |
| Tapien Verbena (Verbena ‘Tapien’) | Various (e.g., Pink, Red, Violet, White) | 6-8 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide | 6-10 | Showy, small, five-petaled flowers in clusters, blooming in spring, summer, and fall | |
| Lanai Blue Verbena (Verbena ‘Lanai Blue’) | Blue | 8-12 inches tall and 12-24 inches wide | 9-11 |
11. Licorice Plant
The licorice, which means sweet root in Greek, is not a root but a legume.
Overview
The Licorice plant has small leaves and thin stems, but despite its delicate appearance, it is much hardy than it looks. Furthermore, its soft colors and textures make it a pleasing backdrop for more brilliantly colored plants in hanging basket collections in full sun. And, despite its small size, the licorice plant produces a strong impact as a trailing plant for containers and hanging baskets. Many gardeners worldwide grow these shrubs due to their irresistible low-demanding nature. However, that is not all. The low-growing varieties of licorice plants can also be planted on slopes and banks to help control soil erosion.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare) | Silver-gray | 1-2 feet tall and wide | 9-11 | Insignificant, small yellow flowers in summer | Velvety, heart-shaped or lance-shaped leaves that are silver-gray or white and may have a slightly hairy texture |
12. Lobelias
Lobelias are often picked by inexperienced gardeners and are incredible garden decorations.
Overview
Lobelias are among the best-known hanging plants that spill over the edges of hanging baskets and other planting containers in the summer. They are easy-to-grow, carefree plants that enjoy cool weather and will continue to produce flowers up through the first frost. They are a great asset to any hanging basket plant collection in full sun. My favorite color for lobelias is blue, and I go giddy every spring when my local nurseries bring in lobelias. They are a must-have for my plant collection whenever I want to add a bit of blue.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) | Red | 2-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide | 2-9 | Showy, tubular, five-lobed flowers in shades of red, blooming in late summer and fall | Dark green, lance-shaped leaves that are toothed and may have a slightly hairy texture |
| Trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) | Various (e.g., Blue, Purple, Pink, White) | 6-12 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide | 10-11 | Showy, small, tubular flowers blooming in spring and summer | Bright green, toothed leaves that are arranged alternately along the stems |
| Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) | Blue | 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide | 3-8 | Showy, tubular, five-lobed flowers in shades of blue, blooming in mid to late summer | Dark green, lance-shaped leaves that are toothed and may have a slightly hairy texture |
13. Diamond Frost Euphorbia
Diamond Frost Euphorbia looks delicate. However, it is pretty tough and usually deer resistant.
Overview
Diamond Frost Euphorbia is a tender perennial often grown in hanging basket plant displays to complement other plants with its frothy foliage en masse for dramatic effect. When cared for properly, it produces tiny white flowers that bloom from early spring to the first autumn frosts. However, please do not get excited by its pretty white flowers and go near it. Its milky sap may irritate skin and cause severe discomfort if ingested. So, keep pets and children away, and please wear gloves when handling or moving the plants.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Diamond Frost Euphorbia (Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Inneuphe’) | White | 12-18 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Small, white, star-shaped flowers with yellow centers that bloom profusely from spring until frost | Small, oval-shaped, light green leaves that are arranged alternately along the stems |
14. Petunias
Easy-care petunias can’t get enough of the sun, and they make excellent plants for hanging baskets.
Overview
When I was growing up, my grandmother introduced me to petunias. They were the first flowers I planted, and I have loved them ever since. Petunias are among the most popular hanging basket flowers because of their long flowering period and exceptional blooms. They are simple and easy to care for, and they can brighten up the otherwise dull borders of hanging baskets or containers. There is a fantastic variety of petunia flowers. They come in various colors, from shades of white to blue and multiple fragrances.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia (Petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’) | Pink | 2-3 feet tall and wide | 10-11 | Large, bright pink flowers that bloom profusely from spring until frost | Small, oval-shaped, deep green leaves that are slightly sticky to the touch |
| Black Velvet Petunia (Petunia ‘Balpevac’) | Black | 8-12 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide | 10-11 | Small, jet-black flowers with a velvety texture and yellow centers that bloom from spring until frost | |
| Midnight Gold Petunia (Petunia ‘Midnight Gold’) | Dark purple with yellow edges | 6-12 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide | 10-11 | Small, dark purple flowers with yellow edges that bloom from spring until frost |
RELATED: What Is Eating My Petunias & How Can I Save Them? | All You Need To Know!
15. A Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
Many people grow them in containers, and their trailing habit makes them ideal for hanging baskets.
Overview
Whether you call them baby petunias or million bells, these easy-to-grow calibrachoas pack a big punch of color for any hanging basket plant collection in full sun. Their name comes from their hundreds of miniature, bell-like flowers resembling tiny petunias. They can bloom continuously through the growing season until the first frost, and their fragrant blooms attract many hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Million Bells (Calibrachoa hybrida) | Various colors, including pink, red, purple, yellow, white, and blue | 6-12 inches tall and wide | 9-11 | Small, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Small, oval-shaped, medium-green leaves that are slightly hairy |
16. Geraniums
Colorful geraniums bring the goods all season long with eye-catching leaves and pretty blooms.
Overview
With lovely scents and colorful flowers, geraniums proliferate in garden beds and hanging baskets, and they are a favorite of gardeners and homeowners. Growing geraniums is straightforward as long as you can give them what they need. They work well planted independently or combined with other plants, such as petunias and vincas. And, even though the most popular varieties of geraniums are annual plants, you can save them over winter. Just bring them indoors before the frost and replant outside in the spring.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) | Various colors, including red, pink, white, and bi-colors | 12-24 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Clusters of small, single, or double flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Rounded or lobed, medium green leaves that may have a dark band |
| Ivy Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) | Various colors, including red, pink, white, and bi-colors | 12-24 inches tall and wide | 9-11 | Small, single, or double flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Rounded or lobed, medium green leaves that resemble ivy leaves |
| Scented Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) | Various colors, including pink, white, and lavender | 12-24 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Clusters of small, single, or double flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Rounded or lobed, medium green leaves that are fragrant |
17. Begonias
Begonias are perhaps one of the most traditional and enduring houseplants you’ll encounter.
Overview
Begonias are easy-to-grow hanging plants that will add interest to your hanging basket plant collection throughout the growing season. They are known for their fleshy stems and are often grown for their colorful leaves and showy flowers. They are excellent specimens for container combinations and can be a focal point when planted in mass. However, they can be a bit picky about growing conditions, although not overly delicate, which makes them an intermediate-level plant project for the starters.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Dragon Wing® Begonia (Begonia x hybrida ‘Dragon Wing®’) | Red, Pink | 12-15 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Clusters of small, pink or red flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Large, glossy, green or bronze-colored leaves that resemble dragon wings |
| Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea) | Red, Pink, and White | 12-18 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Clusters of small, pink, red, or white flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Large, angel wing-shaped, green leaves with red veins |
| Ruffled Pink Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) | Pink | 6-12 inches tall and wide | 10-11 | Clusters of small, pink flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Small, round, green leaves with slightly ruffled edges |
18. Fan Flower (Scaevola)
The low-spreading habit of fan flowers allows their use in containers and hanging baskets.
Overview
Even if you’re a seasoned gardener, you may have never heard of fan flowers, a gorgeous sun-lover, and a relative newcomer to the U.S. However, this beautiful plant is catching on quickly in American gardens, producing a nearly non-stop display of fan-shaped flowers from early summer up to frost. These plants produce blossoms that look like part of a ray flower has been cut off. Their sprawling habit makes them a perfect plant for containers and hanging baskets since they can spread across the ground and not grow too tall.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Fan Flower (Scaevola aemula) | Blue, Pink, White, and Purple | 6-12 inches tall and wide | 9-11 | Small, fan-shaped flowers that bloom from spring until frost | Small, leathery, green leaves that are slightly toothed |
19. Sweet Alyssum
Imagine billowing, scented white ‘ornamental clouds’ hanging from your basket plant collection.
Overview
Few hanging plants can match the drought and heat hardiness. And they are named for their lively fragrance and can provide you with year after year of bright color in milder climates.
However, when growing it, please be careful. These hardy plants are aggressive spreaders; they can quickly take over if not contained. However, they are low maintenance, attract pollinators, and make excellent hanging plants for sunny spots.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) | White, Pink, Purple | 4-6 inches tall, 6-12 inches wide | 4-11 | Small, fragrant flowers that bloom from spring until fall | Small, green, slightly fuzzy leaves |
20. Hens & Chicks
One of the most prized succulents in many gardens, hens & chicks, is a whimsical plant.
Overview
Hens and chicks have a growth habit featuring fleshy pointed leaves arranged in rosettes. They are commonly called houseleeks and grow well indoors and out. They come in shades of green, red, blue, purple, and copper and are often used to add color and texture to containers. Also, they are the ultimate plant for any gardener interested in succulents.
Some Features & Quick Facts
| Plant | Color | Mature Size | Ideal USDA Zones | Floral Features | Foliage Characteristics |
| Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum spp.) | Green, Red, and Purple | 1-6 inches tall and wide, | 3-8 | Small, star-shaped flowers that bloom in summer. | Rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves form tight, low-growing mats. |
Final Thoughts
Hanging plants are an excellent way to introduce some textures and color to those sunny spots of your home where regular flowering plants may have a hard time thriving.
They offer you incredible variety, which allows you to try new plants year after year.
However, when growing these plants, please remember that since they are in a sunny area, they might dry quicker than other plants and might need more frequent watering. Also, if the heat gets too much, bring them inside, or the sunlight will scorch your plants.
Aside from that, don’t fear and fill your hanging baskets with these stunning plants,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best hanging plant for the full sun?
Luckily, many hanging plants can survive in full sun and continue to grow and thrive. Aside from the abovementioned plants, plants perfect for hanging baskets in full sun include Sunpatiens, Portulacas, Marigolds, Creeping Jenny, and Dichondra.
What kind of hanging plant likes direct sunlight?
Many hanging plants for your baskets in the sun can thrive in direct sunlight. One of my favorites is Hoya Carnosa which is also low care and hardy.
What hanging plants last the longest?
Many fabulous flowers last all summer in a hanging basket. These include osteospermums, geraniums, fuchsias, Erigeron karvinskianus, and calibrachoa.
What to do with hanging baskets in extreme heat?
The soil drying out is the biggest problem with hanging baskets in full sun. So water them more often, and during high winds, take them down and place them in a protected area.
What is the fastest-growing hanging plant?
One of the fastest-growing hanging plants is Mistletoe Cactus. It is effortless to look after, and the stems can grow as long as 20 ft in the wild. Another fast-growing hanging plant is the black-eyed Susan – a great option to fill a hanging basket in the sun.
Sources for Further Reading
Creating and Growing Hanging Baskets. ISU Extension and Outreach. (2023). Retrieved 7 March 2023, from https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2022/05/creating-and-growing-hanging-baskets
Hanging Baskets – Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program – The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (2023). Retrieved 7 March 2023, from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/newsletter/2017/more/hanging-baskets.html
Daughtry, M., & Gaster, R. N.C. Cooperative Extension. (2021). Hanging Baskets, From Houseplants to Herbs. Retrieved 7 March 2023, from https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/07/hanging-baskets-from-houseplants-to-herbs/
Hanging Baskets: How to Select, Keep Them Alive Longer. The Ohio State University. (2023). Retrieved 7 March 2023, from https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/hanging-baskets-how-select-keep-them-alive-longer
What are your favorite best plants for hanging baskets in sun? Comment below. Also, check out our other articles:
Houseplants: Water And Feeding Guide
22 Plant Species and 50+ Varieties of Red Leaf Houseplants You Must-Have
Humidifier For Houseplants: A Complete Guide on How To Use Them and Important Tips
