For those who are looking for a beautiful, hardy plant for their shade hanging basket, there are some great choices. Impatiens and Petunias are among the most popular. Coleus and Bacopa are other beautiful plants you can try as well. Here are some tips for selecting your plants. All of them grow well in the shade, but if they receive more light, they may need a little extra care.
Petunias
For shade hanging baskets, petunias are ideal choices. Their bright, showy flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees to your garden. They also require minimal watering and grow easily in most climates. Petunias are popular summer plants and require little care. The flowers of petunias are a season-long treat. If you want trailing plants, try the string of pearls or the wave petunia.
Nasturtiums grow well in hanging baskets because their foliage turns yellow in the late summer and early fall. Dig up the tubers before the first frost to store them for the next year. Nasturtiums require minimum watering and thrive in poor soil. However, they will need protection from cold, hot, and winter winds. Petunias require a well-draining soil with ample sunlight.
Monkey flowers grow in shade. They require moist soil but do not like to dry out. They grow trailing over 2 feet, with giant white blooms in the spring. These flowering plants grow between six inches and four feet high. They do not require deadheading, and their flowering season is long. They can also bloom throughout the winter. They have a high blooming season and are very easy to care for.
Impatiens
Impatiens is a great plant for hanging baskets. They are a beautiful variety that will spill over the sides and fill in gaps around the basket. They are low maintenance and will cover the basket with colorful flowers. They thrive in shady spots and require only moderate sunlight. The bright colors will add a pop of color to any shady spot. Impatiens is also a low maintenance plant that will bloom continuously for a long period of time.
Another great plant for hanging baskets is a begonia. They grow well in hanging baskets and produce bright waxy petals that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Be sure to check the watering needs of each type of begonia before choosing your hanging basket plants. In addition to begonias, impatiens are a great companion plant for fuchsias.
Bacopa
Bacopa is a low-maintenance plant with a single, airy, snow-white flower. Bacopa is best grown in containers and thrives in shade. The plant can be as tall as 36″ and trailing, and can bloom continuously from summer to frost. This shade-loving perennial can also be used in combination with other full-sun annuals. Bacopa grows well in pots, and its single, airy flowers attract butterflies.
This perennial is a favorite choice for hanging baskets because it can grow in a variety of conditions. Bacopa likes partial shade, but will grow in full sun. Bacopa grows best in soil that is a mix of garden soil and flower plant soil. It will bloom most vigorously if the soil is moist. It can also be grown in containers, where it will need less water than plants that grow in full sun.
Bacopa is a groundcover plant that needs some air circulation. It grows well in part shade and prefers soil that is moist. The flowers of Bacopa are white, blue, or deep violet, and they attract butterflies. Bacopa is not difficult to grow and can be cultivated even by novice gardeners. While it is a perennial plant, it is an excellent choice for a shade hanging basket.
Coleus
When choosing a hanging basket, consider how the plant will be located in the shade. Coleus grows well in full sunlight, but will tolerate partial shade. It also roots easily. A hanging basket with coleus is easy to move from sunny to shady areas. Coleus needs at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, but will tolerate less if placed in partial shade. If watering becomes a chore, simply move the basket to a sunny spot.
The plant requires adequate light, so you may want to place a grow light on the base of the basket to help it develop. Coleus can survive in a shaded area if overwintered as houseplants. You must maintain temperatures of 70 degrees or warmer and pincing back the flower heads to preserve their shape. If you’re short on space, a grow light is a good choice.
Nemesia
Anemesia can be used in hanging baskets and containers to create an earthy, woodland look. It grows quickly and comes in many colors. These plants also attract beneficial insects. The only downside is that they need to be planted outside in late spring or early summer in full sun. However, if you live in a warm climate and are looking for a low-maintenance plant, nemesia is an excellent choice.
Since nemesias are frost tender, you should only plant them once the risk of frost has passed. To care for them properly, you should water them regularly, but be sure not to soak the foliage, as this may lead to root rot. Water from the bottom of the pot. Fertilize once a year with a slow-release fertilizer. If you want to see results quickly, plant them at least 15 inches apart.
Planting nemesia in shade will help it flower for longer. It needs at least six hours of direct sun a day, and you can increase the amount of sunlight by adding afternoon shade. Generally, nemesia will go dormant during periods of high heat. The older varieties will go dormant if night temperatures are consistently over 70 degrees. If you want to extend their bloom time, prune off some dead stems and cut back the plant a little to shape it. Don’t cut back more than half of the plant though – the root structure is sensitive to too much water.
Coleus ‘Compact Royal Jewels’
For a bright, colorful plant, try coleus ‘Compact Royal Jewels.’ It can grow in part-sun, full-shade, or a combination of the two. Plants can reach heights of 3 feet. Once established, coleus will root easily. Once the season ends, it can be placed in hanging baskets again.
Compact Royal Jewels Lobelia is a beautiful annual variety with blue lobelia foliage, complemented by the yellow marguerite daisies. This plant is well-adapted to part-shade and thrives in well-drained soil. It will slow down considerably during the summer months. New Guinea impatiens are another choice with their attractive foliage and succulent stems. If full shade isn’t your preference, you can choose ‘Infinity White’ impatiens, which will grow to 14 inches.
Lobelia erinus ‘Compact Royal Jewels’
If you’re looking for a plant that’s good for shade hanging baskets, Lobelia erinus is the way to go. It’s a low-growing, tender perennial that boasts a variety of colors. Its tubular flowers are white with yellow centers, and it blooms in early spring. The foliage is lance-shaped and small, with bronze edges.
Known as a “comeback plant” for its spectacular flowers, lobelias are perennial and annual shrubs that grow to around four feet tall. They prefer moist, well-drained soil, and a generous supply of moisture. To increase flowering, cut the plants back after their spring blooming period. If you’re planting lobelia in a hanging basket, don’t forget to prune them once a week or so to encourage bushier growth.
Another perennial that grows in shade is Lobelia erinus ‘Queen Victoria’. This plant blooms for a long time. Its flowers are blue or violet. And they have long flowering periods, lasting from the middle of spring to fall. These plants make excellent hanging basket plants and can be used in a garden or in a window box.
Black-eyed Susans
Plant black-eyed susans in shade hanging baskets for a stunning display. They grow best in full sun, but tolerate some shade as well. Because they are prolific reseeders, they will spread outward through underground stems. If you have limited space, consider planting one black-eyed susan in a container and filling the rest with a different plant.
One of the best things about black-eyed susans is their ability to attract pollinators and wildlife. Silvery checkerspot butterflies feed solely on black-eyed Susans, and the leaves provide an emergency food source for other animals. Goldfinches, sparrows, and chickadees flock to the flower heads of black-eyed susans. Their flowers are also a magnet for hungry birds, including chickadees and cardinals. The poor land daisy is a key ingredient in pollinator gardens.
When planning your garden, consider planting black-eyed susans in full sun. While the vines thrive in full sun, they should not be over-fertilized as this will cause them to grow too fast. Too much nitrogen will result in more foliage and fewer blooms. Also, be sure to treat the black-eyed susans with insecticidal soap if you have an infestation. Plant two or three single plants per average-sized hanging basket, and four or five in large urns or containers.
