8 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants for Your Patio
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Iryna Imago/Getty ImagesIt might be tough to find this plant at your local garden center, but you’ve likely seen a faux burro’s tail at a home décor store. A specialty succulent shop or website is most likely to have this lovely outdoor hanging plant. This type of sedum also does well indoors, so you can bring it inside when temperatures drop.
Burro’s tail is easy to propagate. You can find cuttings and starter plants on Etsy.
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work by Lisa Kling/Getty ImagesBig, bushy ferns make elegant outdoor hanging plants. Hang some on a front porch to maximize curb appeal. Their wispy leaves grab attention as people walk by your home. Ferns do cascade over the edge of a hanging basket, but they’re full at the top, too. Thanks to their interesting leaves and incredible volume, ferns when planted alone look simple and sleek—never boring.
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Kevin Brine/Getty ImagesHere’s another easy plant to propagate that can be grown indoors or outdoors. Pothos comes in many colors. Some varieties, like devil’s ivy, have bright, golden-green leaves, while others are a deep emerald and white variegation. If you’re someone who likes to root cuttings for friends, this is a good outdoor hanging plant for you.
What to Look For When Buying Outdoor Hanging Plants
Steinkopf says the first thing to do when shopping for outdoor hanging plants is to determine the exposure where you want to hang it. “Is it facing north, south, east, or west? Then check your surroundings to ensure nothing is blocking the light, such as a tree or overhang.”
Once you’ve figured out where you’re going to hang your plant, consider what it needs to thrive. “Don’t buy a shade plant for a sunny area,” says Steinkopf. “If you aren’t home often, don’t buy a plant that needs to be watered every day or sometimes twice a day.”
Why You Should Trust Us
As an assistant editor for Family Handyman, I regularly write about indoor and outdoor gardening, organization and décor. Tending to my balcony garden is one of my favorite things outside of work.
To help me learn more about hanging planters, I consulted Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, who features all things houseplants on her blog the Houseplant Guru. An avid outdoor gardener, she has a regular column in Michigan Gardener magazine and gives lectures around the country about the importance of houseplants and how to care for them. She spent over ten years as the annuals and houseplants manager at Steinkopf Nursery and Garden Center and is a member of numerous plant groups, including Garden Communicators International, the Michigan Cactus and Succulent Society, the Town and Country African Violet Society, the Southeast Michigan Bromeliad Societ and the Southeast Michigan Hardy Plant Society.
How We Found the Best Hanging Plants
We relied on our ample gardening archives to find the best hanging plants, pulling from years of research and experience on all things flora. Additionally, we consulted with industry expert Lisa Eldred Steinkopf and other gardening sources we regularly contact for their insider opinions.
FAQ
What areas should you hang your plants in?
Steinkopf says you can hang your plants anywhere if the light is correct for your basket. Many use them on their porches or shepherd’s hooks to hang them in their gardens.
Can you hang multiple plants together?
If you have a way to hang them together, yes! Many shepherd hooks have multiple hooks for plants. Just make sure your hooks can support the weight of your chosen hanging plants and baskets.
How to take care of a hanging plant
“As a plant matures throughout the summer, it is imperative to fertilize it (my rule is every fourth watering) as some nutrients are washed from the potting medium every time it is watered,” says Steinkopf. “The roots will fill the container and as the summer progresses, your plant will need more water than it did when it was first purchased. Give it a trim to keep it looking full and healthy. If your basket begins to look tired later in the summer, replace it with a fresh new container for the late summer/fall.”
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