24 Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets & Plant Arrangements

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
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Here are the Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements that you can grow in your garden!

If you don’t have much space and want to include plants on a patio or in your small yard, then check out the Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements for a fabulous display of colors!

Check out the best Trailing plants for hanging baskets here


Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements

This list is inclusive of short living perennials and biennials.

1. Fuchsia

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 1

Botanical Name: Fuchsia magellanica

USDA Zones: 6-9 (Perennial)

This perennial happily thrives in hanging baskets and can be an excellent addition to small or large gardens—select trailing fuchsias for hanging baskets.

Check out the best fuchsias for hanging baskets here

2. Dianthus

Botanical Name: Dianthus

USDA Zones: 3-9 (Perennial)

All dianthus or carnation varieties can be grown in hanging baskets. The flower stems give it a good spread in hanging planters when blooms droop down.

3. Ivy

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 3

Botanical Name: Hedera helix

USDA Zones: 4-11 (Perennial)

This evergreen perennial comprises many varieties that trail beautifully in hanging baskets. English ivy is the most popular one loved for unlobed foliage and blooms.

Check out the best ivy varieties here

4. Geranium Rozanne

Botanical Name: Geranium Rozanne

USDA Zones: 5-8 (Perennial)

This hardy geranium looks gorgeous, with purple blooms contrasting against the deep green tendrils that flood beautifully down around the basket.

Here’s all you need to know to keep Geraniums blooming

5. Viola

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 5

Botanical Name: Viola spp.

USDA Zones: 3-8 (Short-living perennial)

Sweet-scented, tiny violas look gorgeous in hanging baskets. Choose varieties like ‘Panola Pink Shades’ (V. x wittrockiana) and ‘Plentifall Frost’.

7. Million Bells

Botanical Name: Calibrachoa

USDA Zones: 9-11 (Perennial in mild climates)

The trailing habit makes a million bells an ideal choice for hanging baskets—it grows slowly, giving a cascading look over the rims of the planter with colorful blooms.

8. Nasturtium

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 8

Botanical Name: Tropaeolum

USDA Zones: 9-11 (Perennial)

This summer-flowering perennial looks stunning in hanging planters with bright blooms atop green leaves. Read more about nasturtium benefits and uses here.

Here is How to Grow Nasturtium in a Container

9. Coral Bells

Botanical Name: Heuchera

USDA Zones: 4-9 (Perennial)

Coral bells make a beautiful addition to hanging baskets with bright and patterned foliage to shaded areas of your garden.

Here are the best types of Heucheras you can grow 

10. Impatiens

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 10

Botanical Name: Impatiens walleriana

USDA Zones: 10-11 (Perennial)

This shade-loving perennial comes in a wide range of pretty hues, including pink, purple, red, orange, and white. The colorful blooms spill beautifully over the sides of the container.

Here is How to Plant Impatiens in Containers

11. Creeping Jenny

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Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia

USDA Zones: 4-9

Also known as moneywort, this perennial has bright tiny yellow blooms and coin-like leaves. You can grow it as a spiller in hanging baskets.

12. Moss Rose

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 12

Botanical Name: Portulaca

USDA Zones: 3-9 (Perennial)

This easy-to-grow plant shows off cylindrical green leaves and colorful blooms and makes a great addition to hanging baskets.

Learn about Moss Rose Plant Care here

13. Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Botanical Name: Thunbergia alata

USDA Zones: 10-11 (Tender Short-living Perennial)

Black-eyed Susan vine covers the pot beautifully and cascades from hanging baskets. ‘Goldstrum’ is a true perennial and comes back every year.

14. Morning Glory

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 14

Botanical Name: Ipomoea purpurea

USDA Zones: 2-8 (Annual), 9-11 (Perennial)

Several morning glory varieties can be grown in hanging baskets as they trail beautifully down over the planter for an attractive display.

Check out the best varieties of Morning Glory Flowers here

15. Coleus

Botanical Name: Coleus scutellarioides

USDA Zones: 10-11 (Herbaceous Perennial)

This fast-growing plant grows fast and comes in a range of textures, colors, designs, and shapes. Choose the best variety for hanging baskets or plant arrangements here.

Here are 24 Different Ways to Grow Coleus

16. Ferns

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 16
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Botanical Name: Tracheophyta

USDA Zones: 2-11 (Perennial)

The lacy evergreen fronds look terrific in hanging planters. For a dash of color, you can also grow Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora).

Have a look at the best types of ferns here

17. Sedums

Botanical Name: Sedum

USDA Zones: 3-11 (Perennial)

‘Alice Evans’ trails beautifully from hanging baskets displaying rosettes of green, thick, pointed, fleshy leaves which look like individual blooms.

Check out more sedum varieties here

18. Bougainvillea

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 18

Botanical Name: Bougainvillea

USDA Zones: 9-11 (Perennial)

Bougainvillea looks pretty in hanging baskets with colorful blooms in pink and white hues. It can tolerate light freeze, but deep freeze can kill the roots—move it indoors in winters.

Learn about Growing Bougainvillea in Pots here

19. Bacopa

Botanical Name: Bacopa monnieri

USDA Zones: 8-11 (Perennial)

This pretty perennial trails down beautifully with tiny white or blue blooms and green leaves. Pick ‘Snowtopia’ for white flowers and ‘Bluetopia’ for blue or mixed shows.

20. Trailing Jade

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 20

Botanical Name: Peperomia Rotundifolia

USDA Zones: 10a-11b (Perennial)

The thin trailing stems of this epiphyte perennial succulent trail up to 12 inches long with many small green round leaves. Grow it in partially shaded, well-lit areas.

Here is How to Grow a Jade Plant from Cuttings

21. Silver Falls Dichondra

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Botanical Name: ‘Silver Falls’ Dichondra argentea

USDA Zones: 8-10 (Perennial)

This trailing heat and drought plant with small, round leaves mimics miniature water lily pads. It grows well in full sun to partial shade.

22. Trailing Vinca

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 22

Botanical Name: Catharanthus Roseus

USDA Zones: 10-11 (Perennial)

This evergreen subshrub is admired for its glossy green leaves and red, pink, white, and rose-colored blooms. Vinca likes full sun but can withstand partial shade.

23. Lamb’s Ear

Botanical Name: Stachys byzantina

USDA Zones: 4a-9a (Perennial)

This sun-loving perennial is a good candidate for hanging baskets; the thick fuzzy leaves have their own charm. Grow it in evenly moist to dry soil in full sun to partial shade.

24. Cup and Saucer Vine

Best Trailing Perennials for Hanging Baskets and Plant Arrangements 24

Botanical Name: Cobaea scandens

USDA Zones: 10-11 (Perennial)

The lightweight, thin oblong leaves with bell or cup-shaped purple blooms look pretty in hanging planters. Grow this strong woody perennial vine in moist, well-draining soil.

Here are the 8 Most Important Tips to Follow When Growing Vines and Climbers

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