No matter if you’re looking for a new twist or are new to hanging baskets, here are ten tailor-made suggestions to try.
1. Grow Edibles in Hanging Baskets
Do you have limited space for a garden, but want to grow your own fruits, veggies and herbs? Edible plants in hanging baskets are a great way to keep a homegrown harvest close to your kitchen door.
Suggested Plants:
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Strawberry | Nasturtium | Parsley | Cherry Tomato |
2. Single Show-Stopping Plant
Some plants are spectacular performers on their own and their cascading displays steal the show without the help of supporting plants. Put one of these showstoppers in a hanging basket for a classic, beautiful decoration.
Suggested Plants: Fuchsia, Ivy Geranium, Petunia
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Begonia | Lobelia |
3. Flowers Butterflies Love
To draw butterflies near your home, plant a hanging basket with nectar-rich flowers that they will seek out. You can sit back and watch them visit the flowers from the comfort of your deck chair.
Suggested Plants: Zinnia, Alyssum
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Petunia | Lantana |
4. Mix Similar Shades of a Single Flower Color
Choose flowers that are similar, but slightly different shades and combine them to create a pleasing pop of color. For example, mix hot pink, pale pink and rose pink flowers together to create a stunning hanging basket combo.
Suggested Plants: Calibrachoa, Petunia, Verbena, Pansy, Begonia, Geranium, Bacopa
5. Foolproof Fragrant Plants for Baskets
For some extra oomph, in addition to pretty flowers, add a fragrant plant or two to your hanging basket combination. You will enjoy the sweet smell as you pass by the door or sit on your balcony.
Suggested Plants: Alyssum, Lantana
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Diascia | Nemesia |
6. High-Contrast, Complementary Flower Colors
Select two colors that are across from one another on the color wheel. These two complementary colors will deliver the most contrast and be an eye-catching combination. Try pairing purple with yellow or rosy red with golden green.
Suggested Plants: Zonal Geranium, Bacopa, Sweet Potato Vine, Petunia, Calibrachoa
7. Trailing Foliage Plants for Hanging Baskets
Flowering plants are not the only way to create a striking hanging basket combo. There are many plants with colorful or textured leaves that you can combine for a long-lasting, continuous display.
Suggested Plants: English Ivy, Spider Plant, Pothos, Creeping Jenny, Coleus, Sweet Potato Vine, Licorice Plant, Dichondra
8. Drought Tolerant Plants for Baskets
For baskets that hang in a particularly hot, sunny location, consider combining drought tolerant plants that will not suffer easily from a lack of water. These plants are also ideal if you tend to forget to water a hanging basket every day.
Suggested Plants: Succulents, Portulaca, Lantana, Zinnia angustifolia
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Sedum | String of Pearls | Purslane |
9. Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
Enjoy observing hummingbirds through a window or from your deck by planting flowers in your hanging basket they love to visit. Brightly colored red flowers are the most attractive to hummingbirds.
Suggested Plants: Nasturtiums, Lantana, Impatiens, Fuchsia
10. Create a Privacy Screen Using Hanging Baskets
Plants that grow long vines can be hung on the end of a porch, patio or balcony to create a natural sense of seclusion.
Suggested Plants:
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Silver Nickle Vine, Dichondra | Sweet Potato Vine | Wave® Petunia |
Find ways to arrange and decorate with your hanging baskets here, 5 Clever Ways to Use Plant Containers.