The following plants on this list all thrive when grown as annuals. The USDA hardiness zone information given is for growing the plant as a perennial in order to make everything simple to grasp. Plants can be brought within in colder locations, cared for throughout the winter, or dumped and planted outdoors again the following spring.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
The bright flower clusters on lantana plants, a member of the verbena family, bloom continuously from spring through fall in Northern climes and almost all year round in water areas. Depending on the species, flowers can range from a single color to a rainbow of shades. Growing plants in pots prevents them from spreading and encroaching because they are sometimes regarded as invasive.
Petunias (Petuniahybrida)
When utilized to cascade over the sides of hanging baskets, wave petunias are a traditional plant for adding color. Although some people might think they are overrated, they are actually fantastic if you want bright plants for full sun. They come in practically every hue and have a range of blossom sizes, which is a bonus.
String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
String of Pearls plants thrive in hanging baskets or containers and grow swiftly both indoors and outdoors. On long, trailing stems that extend over the sides of their container, tiny pea-shaped leaves are borne. Every year, plants can add 12 to 15 new leaves, and stem cuttings are an easy way to multiply them. When grown outside, they may provide tiny white blooms with a cinnamon scent.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
Dwarf bougainvilleas, which are typically cultivated as lovely climbing vines, make excellent choices for hanging baskets because they are contained within the container. Although new varieties are now being made available with white, yellow, orange, and apricot blossoms, these well-liked evergreen vines still typically have purple or red blooms. The resilient bougainvillea puts on a vibrant color display.
Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora)
Small succulent plants called portulacas are regularly produced as annual plants. Long, branching stems on these quickly expanding plants can either grow erect or dangle over the sides of hanging baskets. Bright red, pink, yellow, or white flowers close from sunset to sunrise and don’t bloom when it’s rainy or cloudy.
Air Plant (Tillandsia spp.)
Although many people don’t think air plants make ideal hanging basket choices, several species actually function fairly well. Because their leaves hold moisture better, species with thicker, fuller leaves can endure intense sunlight. When planted in wire or macrame hangers, an attractive air plant is simple to care for and creates a lovely display.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Although they are typically cultivated indoors as houseplants, spider plants can make stunning hanging plants outdoors in warmer climates. They are simple to cultivate and enjoy the full light. Their sparse foliage is either vivid green or has stripes of green and white. The spiderette “babies that dangle down from long stems” are whence it derives its its name.
Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)
In the spring, summer, and fall, the exquisite white blossoms of the Madagascar jasmine are produced, filling your indoor or outdoor environment with an alluring scent. Many people refer to this lovely hanging plant as a waxflower or bridal wreath. It can be trained as a woody evergreen vine to climb up a trellis or drape from a basket.
Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Burro’s tail is a trailing perennial succulent that has stems that can reach a length of two feet. It is also referred to as a “donkey tail plant.” They can withstand prolonged periods of drought thanks to their fleshy, thick leaves, which can hold onto moisture. Pink or crimson flowers emerge in the summer from blue-green foliage.
Purple Heart Plant (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’)
Purple hearing plants are amazing when added to baskets with plants in neutral color schemes because they have gorgeous foliage in a vibrant purple and clusters of tiny pink flowers on trailing stalks. When you pinch the plant’s stems back, they love to be in hanging pots where they can get direct sunlight and grow thick and bushy.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
USDA Zones
In containers, sweet alyssum is frequently used as filler or edging plants. They have long been a favorite among gardeners thanks to their delicate white, cream, pink, or purple flowers. Flowers have a delicate honey perfume that attracts a wide variety of pollinators to your yard. This older cultivar blooms profusely in the spring and fall but withers away in the sweltering summer.
Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Although the sweet potato vine doesn’t yield edible tubers like its relative does, due of its vining habit and lovely leaves, it is sometimes planted as an ornamental plant. The plant is a staple in baskets and containers because of the variety of colors (blue, green, purple, and burgundy) and forms of its leaf. Plants enjoy a lot of heat and sunlight.
Sun Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)
The sun coleus, another wildly popular container plant, has a variety of leaf sizes, hues, and forms. Plants are simple to grow, and their gorgeous foliage is always attractive. The lovely velvety leaves typically have a variety of hues, including contrasting hues on the midrib and leaf margin, including burgundy, bright red, pink, yellows, green, and brown.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
The black-eyed Susan vine, as opposed to the common black-eyed Susan, which forms clumps of upright stems, is a climbing or vining plant that can reach a height of eight feet. All through the growing season, it blooms continuously. Flowers often come in hues of white, yellow, red, or orange and have the recognizable brownish-purple center disk. From a distance, they resemble daisies virtually.
Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)
Mandevilla, often referred to as the rocktrumpet, is a traditional tropical vine with large, eye-catching blooms in pink, red, white, and apricot hues. These easy-to-care-for plants flourish in containers and provide any vertical garden area a dash of vivacious, tropical color. Although it is sometimes planted as an annual, it is actually a frost-sensitive perennial plant that blooms from late spring until the first frost in the fall.
Which hanging plants thrive in direct sunlight?
For places with abundant sun, portulaca comes in a variety of brilliant colors like reds and pinks. You could discover that portulaca is also known as yubi, purslane, or moss rose as you shop for it.
For individuals who might not have as much time this spring and summer to regularly water and fertilize their plants, this plant is perfect. The virtue of portulaca’s exceptional heat and drought tolerance makes it the ideal hanging plant for full sun. This one won’t cause you any concern!
Can hanging ferns tolerate direct sunlight?
Ferns are not permitted on my front porch. That’s difficult for a native Southerner like me to say. A common feature of the Southern countryside is a porch surrounded by ferns.
You better believe our shady back patio is covered in the lush green fronds, whereas our front porch faces straight South and a lovely Boston Fern can’t handle the intense heat of the midday sun! If given the right care, ferns are surprisingly simple to grow and maintain.
Select The Right Fern
The most preferred ferns for porches are Boston and Kimberly Queen ferns. The type of fern you buy should depend on the style you want.
Because of their gently weeping characteristics and vivid green fronds, Boston ferns look fantastic in hanging baskets and on plant stands. Kimberly Queen Ferns are ideal in pots flanking a pathway or entry since they have more firm, upright fronds.
Water Your Fern Regularly
Water is good for ferns. Remember that a rainforest’s gloomy, damp canopy is where they live in the wild. To keep a lush, healthy glow, soil must be consistently and uniformly hydrated.
How you plant your fern will determine how often you water it. Please keep in mind that ferns can dry out very fast if you decide to put them in a hanging basket or pot. Keep the soil moist but not dripping wet. To find out how often you need water your ferns, check them every day at first.
Follow These Overwinter Steps
Ferns are tropical plants, hence they cannot survive in cold weather. Try to overwinter your fern by trimming it back in the fall and putting it in a bright spot indoors to preserve its evergreen hue.
An effort at overwintering needs a certain location, a certain amount of humidity, and water. Keep in mind that even ferns that are dormant enjoy moisture, and a hot home can quickly dry out a plant. Throughout the winter, give your plant a few nice soaks in the shower.
Should hanging baskets be exposed to sunlight?
The soil drying out in hanging baskets in direct sunlight is the main issue, especially on extremely hot days.
Always mulch and supplement your potting mix with water-retentive materials like crystals or granules. Over time, they swell, accumulate water, and release it into the soil. By including these, you can cut your watering intervals in half.
For these plants to bloom, it is imperative to give them a weekly feeding of a liquid organic fertilizer. The plant typically utilises the limited amount of nutrients in the potting mix in hanging baskets during the first few weeks, especially when it receives frequent watering.
Drink water before feeding the plant to keep the basket hydrated.
Do hanging plants receive full sun?
For many plants, areas of your yard or garden that receive more than eight hours of direct sunlight daily can be a touch harsh. Fortunately, a lot of hanging plants thrive in direct sunshine. Along with adding color, they have additional advantages.
- You may easily switch out hanging baskets from year to year, adding diversity and letting you try out different plants.
- On your deck or patio, vining plants work excellent as privacy or shade screens.
- When plants need a respite from the heat, it is simple to move them to other locations.
- Plants that are not suited to your environment can be grown and brought indoors to spend the winter.
What hanging baskets are the hardiest?
Pelargonium (Pelargonium domesticum) Although pelargoniums are planted as annuals north of their hardiness zones, real geraniums are hardy perennials, despite the fact that you may be more familiar with these plants by their more popular name of geranium. Pelargoniums are perfect for hanging baskets due to their trailing habit, strong texture, and vibrant colors.
Do any ferns prefer direct sunlight?
There are many ferns that live in forests and they like to stay under the shadow of big trees. Some people, nevertheless, can stand the full sun.
So which ferns do you recommend for full sun? Bracken Fern, Japanese Climbing Fern, Maidenhair Spleenwort, Meadow Fern, Moa, Northern Maidenhair Fern, Pellaea, Sensitive Fern, Silver Elkhorn Fern, and Water Fern are ferns that can withstand full sun. Some of these ferns can get pretty tall and have lovely foliage!
Of course, all of these ferns can withstand direct sunlight, but some also do well in partial or complete shade.
Do spider plants prefer direct sunlight?
A rosette of solid green or white-variegated long, thin, arching leaf is produced by spider plants. These simple-to-grow houseplants were common in Victorian homes and look particularly lovely in hanging baskets. How to grow spider plants at home is provided here!
About Spider Plants
Small white blooms on long stems and “pups,” or baby spider plants (offsets), may appear on spider plants during the summer. The plant’s name comes from the way the pups resemble little spiders.
Although a vast number of plants would be needed to experience any benefits in the home, spider plants were originally singled out by NASA for their purported air-purifying capabilities. However, they are a timeless and lovely plant to add to your setting.
- Grow in a potting soil that drains properly. Spider plants want constant wetness; they dislike extremes in either direction.
- Keep plants in indirect light that is bright to moderate. Spider plants dislike direct, bright sunlight because it can burn their leaves, resulting in brown tips and patches on the leaves.
- Spider plants can readily outgrow their pots due to their speedy growth. Consider repotting a spider plant every other year or so.
- During the summer, spider plants can be planted outside as annuals. If maintained out of direct sunshine, they look particularly lovely at the edge of a container or bed.
- Water sparingly during early growth; moderately after complete development (within a year), water.
- Keep the soil moist to promote development in the spring and summer. Keep the soil from drying out too much.
- Keep the humidity and temperature of the space normal. Spider plants are excellent indoor houseplants since they thrive in temperatures between 55 and 80F (1327C).
- In the spring and summer, fertilize up to twice a month; nevertheless, avoid overfertilizing.
Do Boston ferns thrive in direct sunlight?
Boston ferns are become a popular plant among knowledgeable, shade-loving gardeners. This fern constantly produces beautiful results with little work, doesn’t require deadheading, and offers a soothing area for the eye to rest. Due to its dependability and elegantly astounding impact, homeowners frequently use their inviting beauty in the toolkit they have access to for their primary front door or porch.
These ferns, which are native to South America, got their name from Boston, where they were first observed in North America. Boston ferns, one of the oldest plants in existence, prefer bright, indirect sunshine and ideal temperatures of 60F to 75F (15C to 24C), yet they may survive in temps as low as 50F.
Here are some helpful hints that both novice and experienced gardeners will find useful:
- The first tip is that these ferns LOVE water! Many individuals worry that they will overwater their fern, but Boston ferns require daily watering when kept outside, especially during the hot summer months. Watering your fern twice daily is a good idea on really hot days. It is simple to understand what climatic conditions they require to produce the optimum outcomes when you take into account that their natural environment is lush rainforests with a lot of humidity, moisture, and shade.
- The weight of the hanging basket can be used as a quick indicator of whether it needs to be watered by gently lifting it up. Light signifies that it needs to be watered, while heavy means that it is not yet ready. Ferns prefer a moist environment that’s not too wet. This is a terrific idea for all hanging baskets because the water needs of different plants vary depending on their size, variety, and environmental factors.
- It is best to avoid going overboard while fertilizing ferns. When they stop being dark green, it’s time to fertilize (20-20-20 foliar fertilizer). If you believe you might skip this phase, a small amount of granular slow release fertilizer in the spring will give a boost for about 6 to 8 weeks.
- Slugs, snails, and grubs are pests of ferns. The good news is that neither container gardening nor hanging baskets pose any of these problems. Nematodes assist in the latter, while slug bait or crushed dried egg shells can help with the first two. A powdered pesticide is preferable because it causes less damage to the leaves.
- The size of your plant will depend on the size of the container it is in. Once your fern has filled its container and you want it to grow even bigger, you can re-pot it into a planter that will support further growth. There is more water available for roots to absorb when there is more soil for them to grow into. By the middle of the summer, a plant from our 12 hanging baskets could grow to be 3 feet wide. Keep in mind this quick growth if you intend to pot your fern into a larger container because the extra weight could be a problem if you plan to hang the basket from a support hook.
- It is simple to restore your plant to peak plant health if you under-water it and it begins to drop leaves and brown off. By giving the plant a “hair-cut” to remove the dead foliage, the new, healthier green fronds will be able to grow through and fill out the plant. But always keep in mind that ferns enjoy water. If you want to restore this dependable plant, water is your best friend!
Overwintering Your Fern
Your fern will need to be overwintered in our environment if you intend to maintain it for the upcoming gardening season. While you can cut back on watering during the winter when the plant is dormant compared to outdoor requirements, the root ball of your ferns should never be allowed to entirely dry up. Your indoor plant’s saucer will aid in water absorption and provide as a simple indicator of when it needs to be watered. Indirect medium light levels, 4–7 feet from a sunny window, are needed for houseplant ferns. They do not like having outlets or vents blow warm or cold air at them. To ensure that the plant grows uniformly both inside and outside, remove any dead fronds and rotate it occasionally. They thrive from regular sprinkling of room-temperature water or a closely placed cold, fine mist humidifier, and they also require more humidity than most homes have. If the air is too dry, leaves’ tips or edges will become brown. To increase the humidity in the air around indoor plants, group them close so they may emit moisture. It may also be beneficial to place your fern in the shower for a soothing, warm shower.
Transition to Outdoors in Spring
Your overwintered fern should be introduced to the outside gradually and not too soon in the spring so that it won’t be startled and loose its leaves. When they are brought inside as the temperatures start to fall in the fall, this can also occur. Remove any old, dead growth if there is leaf drop, being cautious not to remove any new growth. New growth will be possible with more light and airflow, and the area will quickly fill back in.