What Are Flowers for Hanging Plants?
Flowers for hanging plants are varieties specifically chosen for their ability to trail, cascade, or fill a container with vibrant blooms, making them ideal for baskets, window boxes, and elevated planters. Unlike bedding plants that spread horizontally or upright garden plants, these are selected for their downward growth habit, creating a waterfall effect of colour and texture. They are a popular choice for adding visual interest to balconies, patios, porches, and garden borders, especially where ground space is limited.
- Ideal for small spaces and visual impact.
- Focus on trailing or cascading growth habits.
- Add colour and texture to elevated displays.
- Require specific care for optimal flowering.
The appeal lies in their ability to soften hard architectural lines and bring life to often overlooked areas. They can be used to create a focal point, lead the eye, or simply provide a cheerful burst of colour. Understanding their needs, from light exposure to watering, is key to cultivating a thriving display that lasts throughout the growing season.
Understanding the Needs of Hanging Displays
Hanging plants, by their very nature, are exposed. They are often situated in more exposed locations, which means they can dry out faster than plants in the ground. Their roots are contained within a limited soil volume, further necessitating regular attention to moisture levels. Furthermore, the weight of a mature hanging basket means it needs to be securely fastened. Choosing plants that are relatively drought-tolerant or that respond well to frequent watering is a significant consideration for success. The type of soil mix used is also crucial; a well-draining but moisture-retentive compost will provide the best foundation.
Why Choose Specific Varieties?
Not all plants are suited for life suspended in a basket. Standard garden plants might grow too leggy, become root-bound quickly, or simply not have the cascading habit that defines a beautiful hanging display. Plants specifically bred or naturally inclined to trail offer a more reliable and aesthetically pleasing outcome. These varieties are often more compact in their growth, encouraging prolific flowering rather than excessive foliage. They are bred to withstand the conditions typical of hanging baskets, such as increased exposure to wind and sun, and can recover more readily from drying out.
Top Choices for Cascading Colour
Selecting the right flowering plants for hanging containers depends on your specific conditions, such as sunlight levels and desired bloom time. Here, we explore some popular alternatives that consistently deliver stunning results, offering a variety of colours and growth habits to suit most settings.
Sun-Loving Showstoppers
For areas that receive ample direct sunlight throughout the day, several varieties thrive and produce abundant blooms. Petunias, particularly the trailing varieties like Surfinia or Supertunias, are a classic choice. They offer a vast spectrum of colours, from deep purples and blues to vibrant pinks, reds, and whites, often with distinct veining or contrasting centres. Their prolific flowering means they can look stunning from late spring until the first frosts. Another excellent option is the calibrachoa, often called Million Bells, which resembles a miniature petunia but produces a profusion of small, bell-shaped flowers that can completely engulf the pot. These are also very hardy in full sun and come in a wide range of bright hues. Verbena, especially trailing types, adds a delicate, airy feel with clusters of small flowers, often in shades of purple, pink, and red, and is known for its resilience and long flowering period.
Shade-Tolerant Beauties
If your hanging baskets are destined for a shadier spot, where direct sun is limited, you'll need plants that tolerate or even prefer these conditions. Fuchsias are a magnificent choice, offering intricate, bell-shaped flowers that dangle elegantly. They come in a breathtaking array of colours and bicolour combinations, and many varieties are specifically bred for hanging baskets, producing a profuse, pendulous display. They prefer dappled shade or morning sun and protection from harsh afternoon light. Impatiens, particularly the New Guinea varieties, can also perform well in partial shade, offering cheerful, solid-coloured blooms in pinks, reds, whites, and oranges. For a more subtle, yet captivating display, consider shade-loving plants like lobelia. Trailing lobelia, in shades of deep blue, purple, and white, can create a delicate, frothy effect, softening the edges of a basket and complementing other, more robust flowers. These plants often thrive in cooler, moist conditions typical of shadier garden nooks.
Perennial Options for Long-Term Displays
While many popular hanging basket plants are annuals, there are perennial plants that can also be adapted for hanging containers, offering a more sustainable, year-after-year display. Consider trailing fuchsias which, in milder climates, can often be overwintered. Certain varieties of heuchera (Coral Bells), while primarily grown for their striking foliage, also produce delicate, bell-shaped flowers on long stems, which can add an attractive element to a hanging display, especially when chosen for complementary leaf colour. For evergreen interest, consider small, trailing varieties of ivy or certain types of small-leaved euonymus, which can provide structure and foliage colour year-round, even if they don't produce prominent flowers. These are better suited as companions to flowering annuals, providing a green backdrop that ensures the basket never looks completely bare.
Assess your light conditions accurately before selecting plants. A sunny balcony needs different flowers than a shaded patio, and choosing correctly prevents disappointment and ensures your plants thrive.
Cultivating Your Hanging Garden
Successfully growing flowers in hanging baskets involves more than just selecting the right plants; it requires attentive care throughout the season. These elevated displays dry out more quickly and can be more exposed to wind and weather, necessitating a tailored approach to watering, feeding, and general maintenance.
Watering Wisdom
This is arguably the most critical aspect of hanging basket care. Baskets dry out significantly faster than ground-level containers. In warm, sunny weather, you may need to water daily, sometimes even twice a day. The goal is to keep the compost consistently moist, but not waterlogged. A good indicator is to feel the top inch of soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water. Water thoroughly until you see water draining from the bottom of the basket. Avoid misting the foliage, as this can encourage fungal diseases. Using a watering can with a long spout or a dedicated hanging basket watering lance can make reaching the baskets easier and more effective.
Feeding for Flourishing Flowers
To encourage continuous blooming, especially with prolific flowerers like petunias and calibrachoa, regular feeding is essential. The limited soil volume in a hanging basket means nutrients are quickly depleted. Start feeding with a liquid fertiliser suitable for flowering plants approximately two weeks after planting, or once the plants have established. Apply this fertiliser every two to four weeks, following the product's instructions. Some gardeners prefer to use a slow-release fertiliser mixed into the compost at planting time, which provides a steady supply of nutrients over a longer period, reducing the need for frequent liquid feeds. Experimenting with different feed strengths and frequencies can help you find what works best for your chosen plants and conditions.
Pruning and Deadheading
Regular deadheading – the removal of spent flowers – is vital for most flowering plants in hanging baskets. This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and encourages it to produce more blooms. For trailing plants, pinching back leggy stems can also encourage bushier growth and more flowers. Some varieties, like Supertunias, benefit from occasional trimming to maintain their shape and density. If plants start to look tired or overgrown by mid-season, a light trim can rejuvenate them, leading to a fresh flush of flowers. This proactive approach ensures your hanging displays remain attractive throughout their blooming period.
Pest and Disease Watch
Hanging baskets can be susceptible to pests like aphids and red spider mites, particularly when plants are stressed by dry conditions. Inspect your plants regularly, checking the undersides of leaves and new growth. Early detection allows for prompt treatment, which might involve simply washing pests off with water or using an appropriate insecticidal soap. Good air circulation around the basket can help prevent fungal diseases. Ensure you are using a high-quality, well-draining compost and avoid overwatering, especially in cooler, damp weather. Keeping plants healthy through proper watering and feeding is the best defence against many common problems.
The secret to a spectacular hanging basket display lies in understanding that these elevated gardens require more frequent attention to watering and feeding than their ground-level counterparts.
Alternatives and Companion Planting
While specific flowering plants are the stars of hanging baskets, considering alternative approaches and companion planting can elevate your displays further, adding depth, texture, and year-round interest. It's about creating a dynamic arrangement that offers more than just a single season of bloom.
Beyond the Bloom: Foliage First
Sometimes, the most striking hanging baskets are those where foliage plays a starring role, complemented by subtle flowers. Plants with colourful or variegated leaves can provide continuous visual appeal, even when not in bloom. Heucheras offer stunning foliage in shades of purple, lime green, amber, and silver. Trailing varieties of ivy (Hedera helix) come in numerous leaf shapes and variegations, providing evergreen structure. Sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas), particularly the black or lime-green varieties, are vigorous trailers that create a lush backdrop for flowers or can be used on their own for dramatic effect. These foliage plants can anchor a basket, with smaller, bright annual flowers tucked in amongst them for pops of colour.
Complementary Bedding Plants
When choosing bedding plants for hanging baskets, think about creating combinations that work well together. For example, a spiller-and-thriller approach is popular: 'spillers' are trailing plants that hang over the edge (like lobelia or calibrachoa), 'thrillers' are upright, focal plants in the centre (like a fuchsia or a compact geranium), and 'fillers' are mounding plants that fill the space between them (like petunias or alyssum). When selecting, consider plants with similar light and water requirements. For instance, combining shade-loving fuchsias with impatiens or coleus works well, whereas mixing sun-loving petunias with shade-tolerant ferns would likely lead to one or both struggling.
Hardy Shrubs and Perennials
For a more permanent or robust display, consider using smaller, more compact varieties of evergreen shrubs or perennial plants. Certain dwarf conifers or small-leaved hebes can provide structure. Small, trailing varieties of perennial herbs like thyme or oregano can also be trained to spill over the edge, adding fragrance and culinary value. While these may not offer the same prolific floral show as annuals, they provide a reliable framework and can be enhanced with seasonal annuals planted around them. This approach reduces the need for annual replanting and creates a more established look over time. Look for plants that are naturally compact or can be kept so through pruning.
Incorporate a slow-release fertiliser into the compost at planting time to ensure a steady supply of nutrients for your hanging plants, reducing the need for frequent liquid feeding.
Considering Climbing Plants
While less common for traditional hanging baskets, certain vigorous climbing plants can be trained to grow up a support structure placed within a large container, with their foliage and occasional blooms cascading down. For example, a small clematis or even a vigorous nasturtium can be encouraged to climb and then trail. This requires a larger, sturdier container and careful management to prevent the plant from becoming too heavy or unwieldy. It offers a different dimension, transforming a large pot into a cascading feature that can be a spectacular focal point.