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
The Polar Peach Annual Combination features a white pot brimming with vibrant indigo, yellow, and white flowers—creating a lush, rounded bouquet that's perfect for brightening up container gardens against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Polar Peach Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

Three panels of Prime Time Annual Combination: vibrant purple blooms on the left, bright red flowers in the middle, and vivid yellow petals on the right - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Prime Time Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

A hanging basket filled with blooming petunias, like the Raspberry Yogurt Annual Combination, in vibrant white, pink, and purple shades creates a striking addition to container gardens, with lush green leaves peeking through the blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Raspberry Yogurt Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99
Close-up of Rockapulco® Appleblossom Double Impatiens, their delicate pink petals and rich green leaves create a vibrant, shade-loving displa - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A rectangular metallic planter filled with lush green leaves and white-pink Rockapulco® Appleblossom Double Impatiens, some in full bloom and others budding - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockapulco® Appleblossom Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant pink Rockapulco® Coral Reef Double Impatiens, with lush green leaves and several unopened buds surrounding its double blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Rockapulco® Coral Reef Double Impatiens bloom in bright pink, with lush green leaves, bringing vibrant color and beauty to any shade garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® Coral Reef Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens display richly layered purple blooms amid soft-textured green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens with vibrant double purple blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of vibrant pink impatiens in full bloom, nestled among lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A rectangular metal planter filled with lush foliage and vibrant red Rockapulco® Red Double Impatiens - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockapulco® Red Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of Rockapulco® Rose Double Impatiens features clusters of bright pink, ruffled blooms and deep green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.The Rockapulco® Rose Double Impatiens showcases abundant rose-like pink blooms and deep green foliage in a chic rectangular metallic pot - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockapulco® Rose Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

A vibrant planter displays Rockapulco® Tropical Shades Double Impatiens in pink and coral hues, surrounded by trailing lime-green foliage, nestled among other lush shade garden flowers at a garden center - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A vibrant garden bed features clusters of pink-red Rockapulco® Tropical Shades Double Impatiens, classic shade garden flowers, nestled among lush green foliage, ferns, and small white blooms, all bordered by stone pavers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® Tropical Shades Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens flowers in bloom, featuring green leaves and unopened buds next to open flowers. The delicate, layered white petals give the blossoms a full, textured look - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a single Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens, featuring rose-like white double blooms with soft, layered petals nestled among dark green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens features vibrant pink double blooms with white edges amid lush green foliage, offering a colorful display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens flowers with lush green leaves and buds. These vibrant double blooms have delicate purple veining, adding texture and rich color to shade garden containers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

The Rockin' Out Annual Combination hanging basket features lush green foliage, clusters of white flowers, bright yellow blossoms, and small purple and yellow blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockin' Out Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99
The Rockin' Rush Annual Combination is a hanging basket with a three-in-one mix of white, pink, and yellow flowers, set against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockin' Rush Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99
Safari™ Dawn South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) is a heat-tolerant, trailing flower forming dense clusters of vibrant purple blooms with yellow centers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A round pot overflowing with Safari™ Dawn South African Phlox—heat-tolerant trailing flowers in pink, orange, and yellow star shapes - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Dawn South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99

A garden scene with vibrant purple Safari™ Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia), a heat-tolerant trailing plant, nestled among lush foliage and white blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant purple Safari™ Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) flowers with yellow and red centers, surrounded by green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Safari® Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) features vibrant red blooms with yellow centers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A green ceramic pot displays vibrant red Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with yellow centers and lush green foliage, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up shows Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with small lavender-purple blooms and yellow centers trailing from a blue planter on a sunny day, with green grass in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A hanging basket showcases Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with vibrant lavender-purple blooms featuring yellow centers and deep green foliage with some larger pink flowers in the center fo the basket - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
Santa Cruz® Begonia displays bright orange-red, long-pointed flowers that hang downward amid green leaves and small white blossoms in a lush garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA vibrant Santa Cruz® Begonia, with lush dark green leaves and drooping red petals, thrives beside grass and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Santa Cruz® Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Señorita Blanca® Spider Flower (Cleome) blooms with long, white petals fills the frame. Many unopened blooms are also visible - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA bushy Señorita Blanca® Spider Flower (Cleome) with small white blooms in a garden scene - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Señorita Blanca® Spider Flower (Cleome)

$10.99
$10.99

Clusters of vibrant purple and pink Señorita Rosalita® Spider Flower (Cleome) with long, narrow petals stand out among lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of Señorita Rosalita® Spider Flower (Cleome) blooms with green leaves fills the foreground, while purple and pink flowers blur into a vibrant spring garden backdrop - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Señorita Rosalita® Spider Flower (Cleome)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia with vibrant purple and red petals, long pink stamens, and green leaves in white pots - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.Close-up of Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia featuring vibrant deep pink petals, purple centers, and delicate stamens, set against lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Shadow Dancer® 'Marcia' Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99

Two vibrant red and white Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia flowers with elongated petals and pink stamens hang amid green leaves in bright sunlight, highlighting the plant’s compact growth - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of a Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia with vibrant red and white petals, surrounded by green leaves and red buds. Dense, lush green foliage and hints of reddish-purple leaves fill the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Shadow Dancer® Betty Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99
The Share the Joy Annual Combination is a hanging basket filled with vibrant pink, magenta, and white petunias in full bloom, perfect for container gardens. It comes with a sturdy metal chain for easy hanging - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Share the Joy Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

Silvery, lobed Silver Bullet® Wormwood (Artemisia) leaves with a velvety texture make elegant foliage accents among vibrant purple petunias and lush green plants - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Dense, silvery-gray Silver Bullet® Wormwood (Artemisia) with finely divided leaves forms lush clusters, creating striking foliage accents against bright green grass - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Silver Bullet® Wormwood (Artemisia)

$10.99
$10.99

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.