In this guide, we will explore a variety of full sun plants that thrive in hanging baskets, each bringing something unique to your garden with their textures, colors, and growth habits.
Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet Potato Vine, with its vivid foliage, is a standout choice for hanging baskets. This plant’s heart-shaped leaves come in vibrant shades of green, purple, and bronze, offering dramatic contrast against flowering companions. As a vigorous grower, it quickly spills over the sides of its container, creating a lush, cascading effect. Beyond aesthetics, Sweet Potato Vine is relatively low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for busy gardeners. Just ensure it receives ample sunlight; while it can tolerate partial shade, it truly thrives in full sun, promoting more robust growth and richer colors.
String of Pearls
For a more unconventional touch in your hanging baskets, consider the String of Pearls. This succulent, with its unique, bead-like foliage, creates a whimsical effect that’s both eye-catching and charming. Originally native to Africa, String of Pearls does best in bright, direct sunlight, which encourages its growth and maintains its distinctive shape. Watering should be kept to a minimum, allowing the soil to dry out between doses. This plant is perfect for those who enjoy a low-maintenance yet stunning display in their entryways or patios.
Spider Plant
While often recognized as an indoor plant, the Spider Plant can thrive in hanging baskets under full sun conditions when cared for properly. Its arching green and white variegated leaves create a lush cover, and its baby ‘pups’ add a playful element to the display. Spider Plants love bright, indirect light but can adapt to full sun with adequate watering and attention to temperature. They also have air-purifying qualities, making them not just an aesthetic choice but also a healthy one for your outdoor spaces.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Known for its bright, cheerful flowers, the Black-Eyed Susan Vine adds an element of joy to any hanging basket. These vibrant yellow and orange blooms make a stunning addition when they cascade elegantly downwards. Requiring full sun for optimal growth, this flowering vine thrives on warmth. Its climbing habit allows it to twist and turn around its support, but in a hanging basket, it will freely dangle, creating a sunny glow. Regular watering will keep the blossoms vibrant, especially during hot, dry spells.
Ivy Geranium
The Ivy Geranium is a classic choice for hanging baskets, known for its trailing vines and richly colored flowers. It comes in shades ranging from soft pastels to vibrant bold hues. This plant loves the sun, blooming profusely when given ample light. The distinctive ivy-shaped leaves not only add texture but also make it resilient against pests. As a bonus, Ivy Geraniums are particularly well-suited for hot environments, where other flowers might struggle. Keeping the soil consistently moist, while ensuring good drainage, will allow these beauties to flourish.
Air Plants
Air Plants, or Tillandsia, offer a unique twist to traditional hanging basket arrangements. These fascinating little plants don’t require soil; instead, they absorb moisture and nutrients from the air through their leaves. Many gardeners love to create artistic displays with Air Plants, attaching them to driftwood or inside terrariums. While they do appreciate bright light, direct sunlight should be limited to avoid scorching their delicate leaves. Regular misting or soaking keeps them healthy and vibrant, making them a fun, interactive plant option.
Burro’s Tail
Burro’s Tail is truly a charm among succulents. Its trailing, fleshy leaves can create a stunning waterfall effect in hanging baskets. This plant thrives in bright, direct sunlight, making it perfect for sunny spots in your garden or patio. It’s a tough plant, tolerating drought and varying temperatures, but you’ll want to be mindful of how it’s watered. Over-watering can lead to rot, so letting the soil dry completely between waterings is key. With minimal care, Burro’s Tail becomes a stunning focal point that invites compliments.
Cherry Tomatoes
Hanging baskets aren’t just for flowers; they can also be functional, and Cherry Tomatoes fit perfectly into this category. These tasty treats thrive in full sun and are relatively easy to grow in a hanging basket. With proper support, they can cascade beautifully as they fruit, creating a delightful addition to any balcony or patio. Ensure the basket is deep enough to hold the roots and incorporating a quality potting mix will help promote healthy growth. Regular pruning will keep your plants manageable while encouraging more fruitful yields.
Petunias
Petunias are a staple of hanging baskets, appreciated for their vibrant color palette and long blooming seasons. These prolific flowers thrive in full sun, producing blooms from spring to fall. Their trailing habit is perfect for spillover in baskets, and they’re available in numerous varieties, ranging from single to ruffled blooms and from solid tones to striking patterns. Regular deadheading helps to prolong blooming, and a little fertilizer every few weeks will keep these floral beauties vibrant and healthy.
Million Bells
If you adore the charm of calibrachoa, commonly known as Million Bells, you’re in for a treat. These petit flowers offer a similar look to petunias, yet they tend to be more compact and profusely bloom throughout the summer, giving you an explosion of color. They thrive in full sun, making them perfect for hanging baskets where you want a cascading effect of cheerful blooms. Million Bells are low-maintenance and drought-resistant, requiring just a bit of deadheading to look their best throughout the growing season.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a tropical delight that adds a dramatic flair to your hanging baskets. Known for its vibrant bracts — often in magenta, orange, or fuchsia — Bougainvillea thrives in full sun and heat, making it perfect for warm areas. This perennial plant can thrive with minimal watering once established, yet it does need good drainage to prevent root rot. Its ability to create a bold, colorful display makes it a favorite among gardeners looking to make a statement. Be sure to regularly trim back to manage growth and maintain its shape.
Portulaca
A charming and resilient addition for sun-drenched gardens, Portulaca, or moss rose, features succulent leaves and a variety of brightly colored flowers. These low-maintenance plants thrive in full sun and are highly drought-tolerant, making them ideal for hot, sunny locales. Portulaca blossoms open during the day and close at night, providing dynamic interest to your hanging baskets. Regular deadheading helps keep the flowers blooming throughout the summer, ensuring a vibrant, cheerful display.
Dragon Wing Begonia
The Dragon Wing Begonia is a stunning choice that provides drama and richness in your hanging baskets. With its large, glossy leaves and striking red or pink flowers, this plant thrives in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for a hanging display, and it’s particularly noted for being more heat-tolerant than other begonias. Regular watering is essential to maintain its lush look but avoid letting it sit in waterlogged soil to protect against rot.
Sunpatiens
If you’re looking for a more vigorous flower that truly thrives in sunny conditions, Sunpatiens should be on your list. These heat-tolerant plants produce an abundance of blooms in a variety of shades, from white to vibrant pinks and reds. Sunpatiens are known for their resilience and ability to flourish in full sun, outperforming traditional impatiens. They’re great for hanging baskets as their sprawling growth habit ensures a full, lush appearance. Regular watering and fertilization will keep them blooming beautifully and continuously throughout the warm months.
Bacopa
Bacopa is celebrated for its small, delicate flowers that create a sea of color in your hanging baskets. These charming, trailing plants prefer full sun exposure and are often seen mingling with other annuals due to their sweet, cascading nature. Bacopa is a durable plant that tolerates both heat and humidity; however, consistent moisture is essential for optimal growth. These flowers are perfect for creating a soft, romantic look in any garden space, making them a popular choice for summer floral arrangements.
Trailing Lantana
Trailing Lantana is not only attractive with its bright clusters of flowers that are often multi-colored, but it also attracts pollinators, making it a favorite among gardeners wanting to invite butterflies and hummingbirds into their outdoor spaces. This plant loves full sun and blooms abundantly throughout the summer, giving a cheerful vibe to any hanging basket. Lantana is drought-resistant yet requires well-draining soil. It’s also great at self-spreading, allowing it to create a lush, full look without much intervention.
Tradescantia Pallida
If you’re looking for a splash of color and a unique texture, consider adding Tradescantia Pallida, also known as Purple Heart. This plant features striking purple leaves that create a dramatic and vibrant display when planted in hanging baskets. It thrives in full sun, although it can also tolerate partial shade. Its sprawling nature allows it to create an impressive cascade, making it a favorite for filling gaps and adding depth to floral arrangements. Regular watering is recommended, but it can withstand occasional droughts, making it versatile and easy to care for.
Verbena
Verbena is a classic garden favorite with its long-lasting blooms and delightful fragrance. These plants thrive in full sun and produce clusters of small flowers that come in a myriad of colors, making them perfect for hanging baskets. Verbena is typically resilient and can flourish even during hot summer days. Regular deadheading is recommended to encourage continuous blooming, ensuring that your baskets remain packed with color throughout the season. Their trailing habit allows them to spill over the edges of containers, creating a beautifully colorful display.
Lobelia
Known for its vivid blue and purple hues, Lobelia is a charming plant that adds depth and color to hanging baskets. This annual thrives in full sun and prefers cooler temperatures, making it perfect for spring and early summer gardens. The delicate trailing habit of Lobelia allows it to spill gracefully over the sides of baskets, creating stunning effects when combined with other floral companions. Regular watering ensures that these plants stay vibrant and lush, enhancing their beauty over time.
Pansies
While traditionally seen as a cool-weather flower, certain varieties of pansies can thrive in warmer, sunny locations. With their wide range of colors and cheerful faces, they’re a delightful addition to any hanging basket. Pansies enjoy full sun for the best blooms, but they also appreciate some afternoon shade, especially in very hot climates. Regular watering and deadheading will prolong their blooming period, ensuring that your hanging plants remain colorful and attractive.
Strawberries
Who says hanging baskets are just for flowers? Strawberry plants are an exceptional choice for hanging baskets, providing both aesthetic appeal and delicious fruits! These plants thrive in full sunlight and are great for those wanting to combine beauty with functionality. Ensure you select ever-bearing varieties, which produce fruit throughout the growing season. Regular watering is essential, especially as strawberries fruit, and ensuring that the planter has good drainage will help keep the roots healthy and thriving.
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum, with its tiny flowering clusters and sweet fragrance, is a lovely addition to any hanging basket. It thrives in full sun and can tolerate some light shade, making it a versatile option. This plant brings a delicate touch, perfect for lacing through more robust flowers. Sweet Alyssum attracts beneficial pollinators, enriching your garden ecosystem while adding beauty. It flowers profusely, providing a soft carpet of blooms that continue from spring through fall.
Ivy
Though often treated as an indoor plant, certain varieties of Ivy can thrive in outdoor hanging baskets as well. These vining plants love full sun, creating a lush, cascading effect. Ivy adds an attractive layer of greenery and texture, making it a perfect companion in mixed arrangements. Remember to choose hardy varieties suited for outdoor exposure. Regular watering will help maintain their vibrant look and encourage healthy growth throughout the growing season.
Nemesia
With its cheerful, fragrant flowers, Nemesia is another wonderful choice for hanging baskets. These beauties thrive in full sun and bloom with abundant colors throughout warm months. They are particularly adaptable, making them great for beginners. Regular deadheading will keep your plants blooming consistently, while proper watering will reduce the risk of wilting in hotter conditions. Whether in shades of purple, yellow, or pink, Nemesia provides a lovely floral display that is hard to resist.
Mandevilla
Mandevilla is a flowering vine that brings a tropical feel to any hanging basket. Its stunning trumpet-shaped flowers bloom throughout the summer, creating a show-stopping display. This plant loves the sun and thrives in warm conditions, making it a favorite for gardens seeking vibrant summer colors. Mandevilla likes rich, well-draining soil and benefits from regular watering. Ideally, it will need a supportive structure or trellis to climb, providing an even more impressive backdrop in your hanging arrangement.
Aptenia
Aptenia, also known as Red Apple or Heartleaf Ice Plant, is a succulent that features attractive heart-shaped leaves and occasional daisy-like flowers. This ground cover plant is particularly well-suited for hanging baskets due to its trailing habit and love for full sun exposure. It is drought-resistant, requiring minimal care and maintenance. Aptenia’s lush foliage, which can turn bright red in cooler temperatures, makes it an eye-catching addition to any hanging display.
Scaevola
Scaevola, or the fan flower, introduces an exotic touch to your hanging baskets. With its unique fan-shaped blooms, it thrives in full sun and adds a splash of color that blooms throughout the summer. Scaevola is incredibly resilient, making it perfect for hanging arrangements exposed to the elements. These plants prefer well-drained soil and regular watering to keep them flourishing. Their trailing nature allows them to spill beautifully over the sides of pots, creating a lovely, full appearance.
Dichondra
Dichondra, particularly Dichondra argentea, is often chosen for its silvery foliage and growing habit. This plant can beautifully complement flowering varieties in hanging baskets, trailing over the edges with its lush, rounded leaves. It prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade, growing best in well-draining soil. Dichondra provides outstanding textural contrast to floral companions, making it an excellent foliage option for mixed arrangements.
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant herb that thrives in full sun and is a great choice for hanging baskets that may also serve culinary purposes. Its tiny lavender blooms during the summer attract pollinators, making it a lovely addition to your outdoor space. This low-growing, hardy plant accepts drought conditions once established, requiring minimal care. The spillover plant will create a lush, green edge in your hanging arrangements, and you can enjoy its aromatic leaves in your kitchen as well.
Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a vigorous climber that brings gorgeous trumpet-shaped flowers in various hues to your outdoor space. While often seen as a garden vine, they can also thrive in hanging baskets, offering an eye-catching display when planted with adequate support. Morning Glories love full sun and can spread rapidly; it’s essential to ensure they have plenty of space. Regular watering helps keep these beauties from wilting, and with their bloom time in the morning, they make for a stunning start to your day.
