Hanging baskets can provide elegance and style to a drab porch or room. Selecting the right flowers for hanging baskets is essential for success. Although almost any flower will fit into a hanging basket, it might not give your space the aesthetic quality you want. A specimen that requires more sun, for example, should be carefully considered. Listed below are the top flowers to choose for hanging baskets. Listed below are some other plants that can be used in hanging baskets.
Vervain
A perennial flower with trailing branches and fleshy green leaves, vervain can be grown in sun or partial shade. They have a variety of fragrant flowers and can be a great addition to hanging baskets. Because of their medicinal properties, waterhyssop is one of the lesser known hanging basket plants but they also have great medicinal value. Waterhyssop likes medium to full sunlight and should receive at least one feeding per week with a high-potash fertilizer.
The ancient Druids of Ireland believed that vervain held magical powers, and the worshippers of Thor used the plant in ceremonies. The Greeks and Romans regarded vervain as a sacred herb, and they also called it ‘hierobotane’ and ‘herba sacra.’ Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, also recommended the herb to his patients.
Impatiens
These bright flat-leaved flowers are among the easiest-to-grow and most reliable annuals for hanging baskets. They thrive in shady locations and do well in a variety of containers. They are great for filling empty spaces in your hanging basket and add continuous color in window boxes, garden beds, and containers. You can choose from a variety of colors and sizes to match your decor, and the plants need little care.
Begonias can grow in a wide variety of conditions, including shade and sun. Most varieties of begonias grow two to three feet tall, branching out from their stems. Begonias are easy to care for and give hanging baskets a full spilling effect. You can choose from several varieties of begonias, including Dragon Wing and BIG varieties. Begonias are shade-loving, making them ideal for hanging baskets.
Petunia
Petunia is a popular perennial that is easy to grow in hanging containers. Its tiny ribbed petals have a wide variety of colours, ranging from white to pink and purple. This plant is often trailing, so it can be used to hang baskets as well as in pots. It also grows very well in full sun, and requires little maintenance once established. Petunias are also very hardy, and will bloom for months without deadheading.
Popular petunia varieties include the Easy Wave Blue and the Spreading Petunia. Both of these flowers can thrive in full sun. Easy Wave Blue has a deep purple-blue hue that can be mixed with lighter-colored blooms for a striking effect. Another popular variety is the lavender-blue streptocarpella, a relative of African violets. This plant is easy to grow and is the perfect companion for orange plants.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums are perennial or annual and are highly attractive in the garden. Perennial varieties are winter-hardy and can be grown directly from seed. Nasturtiums’ leaves and flowers are edible. The seedpods resemble capers and taste similar to them. The nasturtium has been used as an ornamental flower for centuries. It is not as easy to care for as other flowering plants, so they should be carefully selected and cultivated.
Plant nasturtium seeds in full sunlight in a 4-inch pot. Sow seeds in the soil and cover with half an inch of potting mix. When seedlings emerge, remove the pot and acclimate them to the outdoor climate. If you have heavy clay soil, mix in organic matter to make the soil lighter and more drier. Once seedlings start germination, plant the plants three to four inches apart and 1 inch deep in the soil. After transplanting, water and fertilize them regularly.
Calibranchoa
Calibrachoas are not prone to disease. However, they may be susceptible to infestations by thrips and mites. They are not deer resistant, so they should be planted in late spring, after danger of frost has passed. Plant them in a pot in a well-drained soil. In hot climates, they will thrive in shady locations, but do not overwater.
Calibrachoas are also known as million bells. Although botanically they are a different genus, they’re easy to grow and take well to mulching. These flowers are a great choice for hanging baskets because they have a variety of patterns and colors. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful these plants look in your hanging basket. They’re also very hardy, so there’s no need to worry about them dying if you cut them back, as they’ll survive and thrive even in the most unfriendly conditions.
Begonias
Begonias are a good choice for hanging baskets, as their showy, waxy flowers are perfect for the container. These perennial plants also tolerate heat well and come in many different colors. Begonias are easy to care for and grow all year long in hanging baskets indoors. They also don’t need to be moved from their pots during the colder months. Begonias are also very drought tolerant and do not like frost, so they make great hanging basket plants.
If you have a sunny window, you can use this plant in your hanging basket to create a colorful, tropical look. Begonias are one of the easiest plants to care for and can thrive in shaded spots. When choosing your plants, you need to consider the light and temperature conditions. Hanging baskets should be placed in partial shade so that the air is not too dry. A shaded area may require additional watering to keep the plants healthy and vibrant.
Lantana
This beautiful, hardy plant grows well in hot, sunny areas. It’s drought-tolerant once established and doesn’t require much fertilizer. However, lantanas need a lot of water during the first few weeks of growth, so be sure to provide adequate moisture. This plant needs little fertilizer once established, but too little will suppress its blooms. Pruning the plants back aggressively encourages additional flowering.
Lantanas are excellent plants for hanging baskets. Their colorful blooms will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They’re also easy to maintain, so they’re a great choice for hot, sunny areas. Lantanas can be grown in containers, but they can become too invasive if not cared for properly. The wave petunia will add a splash of color to any hanging basket. These plants grow in almost every color and flower size.
Nepeta
When choosing plants for your hanging basket, consider including Nepeta. These plants are easy to grow and attract many pollinators. They don’t need much care and are easy to grow in most soil types. Their blooms are often edible, so consider planting them as a part of your garden. The best time to harvest the flowers is late in the day, or cut them back significantly after they finish blooming. Keep in mind that Nepeta is attractive to cats, so make sure to place a stick or two in the bottom of the basket to discourage them from rolling in the flowers.
The most common variety is Nepeta x faassenii, a silver gray-green mound that grows one to two feet tall and bears loose spikes of lavender-blue blossoms. Other named selections include ‘Porcelain’, ‘Snowflake’, and ‘Tropmore.’ Other cultivars such as the ‘Six Hills Giant’ are tall and wide and produce flowers that are as attractive as the ‘Snowflake’ variety.
Fountain grass
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant for hanging baskets, consider using fountain grass. These plants are easily grown from seed, but may not come true every time. Fortunately, they do grow well in most types of soil, and once established, they are drought tolerant. However, you should remember to plant them with their crowns elevated above the ground. Fountain grass does not flower well in very wet soil, and if it is not properly watered, it may not grow as well as you’d like.
The best time to start planting fountain grass flowers is early spring. They can be started indoors at this time of year and transplanted outdoors after a few weeks. The seeds can be planted as early as late January or early February, and you can expect to see flowers by late spring or early summer. They can be divided every three years or earlier, depending on their size. They need one to two inches of water each week to thrive.
