Design Use - Hanging Baskets

Looking for plants that perform well in hanging baskets? Garden Crossings brings together flowering and foliage options selected for hanging basket use, making it easier to build colorful displays for porches, patios, balconies, and other small-space garden areas. Explore options by sun exposure, bloom time, water needs, brand, and helpful garden attributes so you can match plants to the conditions where your basket will hang.

Hanging basket filled with white and purple petunias, small blue blooms, and trailing green vines against a white background
Close-up of vibrant Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet flowers with green leaves, accompanied by a few narrow red-orange blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of vibrant purple star-shaped flowers, Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet (Browallia) is a stunning blue-toned annual - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet (Browallia)

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of a bowl filled with ripe Eversweet’ Strawberry-Everbearing (Fragaria) with green leaves, set on a red and green patterned surface - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Eversweet' Strawberry-Everbearing (Fragaria)

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of a cluster of Fairytrail Bride® Cascade Hydrangea flowers and green buds among lush leaves, with sunlight highlighting the cascading petals of this stunning reblooming hydrangea. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA Fairytrail Bride® Cascade Hydrangea, with clusters of white flowers and green leaves, sits on a wooden bench in a garden filled with greenery and yellow blooms in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Fairytrail Bride® Cascade Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

A cluster of Fairytrail® Green Cascade Hydrangea blooms with lush green leaves grows in a mulched garden bed, with blurred greenery and a pathway in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. A garden with clusters of white and pink hydrangeas and Fairytrail® Green Cascade Hydrangea in full bloom, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees, with a house visible in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Fairytrail® Green Cascade Hydrangea

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

A terracotta pot with lush green leaves and clusters of Fairytrail® White Cascade Hydrangea, a striking reblooming variety, sits on a wooden surface against a beige wall - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.A large clay pot with a lush Fairytrail® White Cascade Hydrangea, showcasing white flower clusters and green leaves, sits on a wooden deck in front of beige siding - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Fairytrail® White Cascade Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99
A close-up of vibrant green and yellow-veined leaves, some edged with purple, from Fancifillers™ Guacamole Plectranthus near dark purple foliage and pale pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of vibrant yellow-green, serrated leaves and deep green veins with purplish stems in the background, showcasing the lush foliage of Fancifillers™ Guacamole Plectranthus - Photo Courtesy of Mast Young Plants.

Fancifillers™ Guacamole Plectranthus

$10.99
$10.99
A hanging basket of Proven Winners' Far and Away Annual Combination, featuring vibrant Supertunia Vista petunias in pink, red, and white, overflows beautifully and hangs by a metal chain against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Far and Away Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

Clusters of small, white Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) flowers with green leaves and stems create a lush, dense look. These delicate blooms are surrounded by fresh greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) shows clusters of tiny white flowers and green stems against a blurred background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Festival Star® Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)

$17.99
$17.99

A cluster of pointed scarlet orange flowers of the Firecracker Upright Fuchsia hangs amid green and purple-edged leaves, accented with small white blooms and foliage in a dark decorative planter - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.Firecracker Upright Fuchsia features tubular scarlet-orange flowers on leafy stems with variegated leaves and purple veins - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Firecracker Upright Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99

Flambe® Yellow Strawflower (Chrysocephalum) features clusters of small, bright yellow, rounded blooms above green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A brown pot features a bushy Flambe® Yellow Strawflower (Chrysocephalum), its silvery-green leaves and bright yellow flowers thriving outdoors among stones and greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Flambe® Yellow Strawflower (Chrysocephalum)

$10.99
$10.99

The Fruit Salad Annual Combination features a white ribbed pot filled with Superbells Grape Punch and Lemon Slice flowers in vibrant pink, purple, and yellow, accented by lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.The Fruit Salad Annual Combination features a vibrant mix of Superbells Grape Punch, Superbells Lemon Slice, and Superbena Royale Iced Cherry blooms, all set against lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Fruit Salad Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99
A vibrant red dahlia blooms among green, serrated leaves, complemented by more red flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCThe Funky® Orange Begonia features bright orange double blooms with layered petals and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Funky® Orange Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of Funky® Pink Begonia shows double pink blooms with layered petals and jagged green leaves, more pink flowers softly blurred behind - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Funky® Pink Begonia's double pink blooms in a wicker hanging basket, amid green leaves and buds. The softly blurred background suggests a porch setting with lush greenery outside - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Funky® Pink Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Funky® Red Begonia features bright red double blooms with layered petals and yellow stamens, set against lush green leaves. A visible bud hints at more color - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of Funky® Red Begonia, featuring vibrant double blooms and lush green leaves in a hanging basket, set against the softly lit panels of a greenhouse - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Funky® Red Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Bright magenta Gigi Dark Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) in full bloom are surrounded by green leaves and unopened flower buds. The petals are lush and layered, creating a striking contrast with the buds and foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of a vibrant pink Gigi Dark Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, showing detailed, layered petals with a soft-focus pink background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Dark Pink Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Top down view of large yellow-orange blooms of Gigi Gold' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum). Many smaller blooms are ready to open on the plant - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of a vibrant yellow Gigi Gold' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with layered petals and an orange center, set against a blurred green and yellow background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Gold Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of vibrant orange Gigi Orange' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves and some unopened red-orange buds in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of an orange Gigi Orange' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with vibrant petals and a blurred green and orange background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Orange Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up of Glacier Ivy (Hedera) shows creamy white-edged leaves with visible veins, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Glacier Ivy (Hedera)

$10.99
$10.99
Dense, dark purple pointed leaves of a nearby plant create a striking contrast with the bright yellow Golddust® Mecardonia flowers and green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Three dense mounds of Golddust® Mecardonia, a low-maintenance plant with small yellow flowers, grow in a mulched garden bed, surrounded by green plants and pink flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Golddust® Mecardonia

$10.99
$10.99

With its striking golden leaves and tall stalks adorned with vibrant red tubular flowers, 'Golden Delicious' Golden Leaved Pineapple Sage (Salvia) is a deer-resistant annual that stands out among other green foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCGolden Delicious' Golden Leaved Pineapple Sage (Salvia) offers bright green, pointed leaves above red and pink petunias, creating a lush, deer-resistant garden display against a backdrop of lawn and shrubs. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Golden Delicious' Golden Leaved Pineapple Sage (Salvia)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of Goldilocks' Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia) shows its vibrant, small, round light green leaves spilling over a purple pot on a wooden surface, surrounded by other greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.Goldilocks' Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia) trails over a dark planter with bright yellow-green leaves, accented by blooming purple and white pansies amid green foliage. Ideal as vibrant ground cover - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Goldilocks Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant green blades from Graceful Grasses® Curly Wurly Rush (Juncus), densely packed and twisting in various directions to form an intricate, textured natural pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Graceful Grasses® Curly Wurly Rush (Juncus)

$17.99
$17.99
A clump of Graceful Grasses® Toffee Twist Sedge (Carex), with bronze foliage and thin, arching tan and green blades, grows in a garden bed surrounded by red flowers, leafy green plants, and sunlit grass - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A black planter filled with trailing red, orange, and yellow flowers and tall Graceful Grasses® Toffee Twist Sedge (Carex) with bronze foliage stands before blurred autumn trees and a reflective lake - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Graceful Grasses® Toffee Twist Sedge (Carex)

$16.99
$16.99

The Hidden Cottage Annual Combination features a mix of light and dark purple flowers with Supertunia Blue Skies petunias, verbena, and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Hidden Cottage Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

Create Colorful, Easy-Care Displays

For classic seasonal color, explore annuals for baskets, including options for creating full, colorful displays. If you want to simplify watering, pair your plant choices with the 16" Weekender® Hanging Planter, a self-watering option that can help reduce the need for daily watering.

Find the Right Plants for Sun or Shade

Whether you’re planning a bright full-sun basket, adding color to a part-shade porch, or filling a shadier spot, start with the growing conditions first. Then, compare bloom time, water needs, and plant characteristics to create a basket that suits your space and maintenance preferences. Browse the collection below to find plants for your next hanging basket.

FAQs

Full-sun baskets do well with heat-tolerant trailers like calibrachoa, lantana, and portulaca, while shaded spots favor begonias, lobelia, and fuchsia. Matching light exposure to the plant's needs is the biggest factor in basket success, since sun-loving varieties can scorch in shade and shade plants can wilt in direct sun.

Yes, combining a mix of upright, filler, and trailing plants creates a fuller, more dynamic basket display. Popular combinations pair a trailing variety like bacopa or sweet potato vine with a bushier bloomer for contrast in texture and height. Matching water and sun needs across varieties keeps the combination thriving.

The best hanging basket plants have a naturally trailing or cascading growth habit and produce continuous blooms without heavy deadheading. Compact root systems that adapt well to container life are also important, since basket space is limited compared to garden beds.

Trailing foliage plants like creeping Jenny or Dichondra add texture and continuous color without relying on blooms, while flowering trailers like petunias or verbena offer seasonal color bursts. Many gardeners combine both types in one basket for layered visual interest throughout the season.

Hanging baskets generally perform best with a lightweight, well-draining potting mix rather than dense garden soil. This type of mix retains enough moisture for consistent watering while draining excess water, which helps prevent root rot in the confined space of a hanging container.