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One of the simplest ways to add a pop of color and beauty to your yard is to add a few hanging baskets loaded with colorful flowers. With gardening season in full swing, hanging baskets are a quick way to get your yard blooming. Over the season, they fill out and burst with vibrant color and elegant trailing foliage. Here are a few different flowering plants that are perfect for filling out a colorful hanging basket in Northwest Arkansas, and some tips for planting your own design!
or Million Bells, is one of the best flowering plants for hanging baskets out there. It’s a tough plant that blooms profusely and is easy to grow. If you want a solid ball of vibrant flowers that last and last, Calibrachoa is always a winner. Its 1-inch blossoms resemble the shape of small petunias and are available in a rainbow of colors and variegations. Calibrachoa can fill a hanging basket on their own, or they can be combined with other plants for a more dynamic look. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight during the day. Calibrachoa is drought tolerant, but don’t let them dry out very often, as it can reduce blooming.
Petunias are another classic hanging basket beauty. They’re fairly low-maintenance and they bloom like crazy, all summer long. There are many different types of petunias available, so check the tag before you pick one! Wave petunias are an excellent choice for hanging baskets as they stay relatively compact but can spread and trail beautifully over the sides of the basket. Petunias are also available in basically any color you can think of, from black to pink to yellow. There are also many striking variegated versions available. Petunias also prefer full sun, and they can fill a basket on their own or be combined with other sun-loving plants. They do require some deadheading, so don’t hang them too far out of reach. Similar to Calibrachoa, they are drought-tolerant but shouldn’t dry out too often.
New Guinea Impatiens are the sun-loving variety of impatiens that are perfect for hanging baskets. They also bloom all summer long and come in a wide range of colors. Each blossom has five petals, and they grow in clumps. New Guinea Impatiens are particularly popular with butterflies and bees, so they’re an excellent option for pollinator gardens. They require at least half a day in full sun, but they are not especially drought-tolerant. Make sure that your New Guinea Impatiens are watered regularly and don’t let them dry out.
Lysimachia, or Goldilocks Creeping Jenny, is one of the best trailing greenery plants for hanging baskets. Its green-gold leaves are striking and vibrant, and its long tendrils trail beautifully up to a 16 inches long. It likes sun but can tolerate a few hours of shade as well. It does prefer moist soil, so keep your baskets of Creeping Jenny well-watered!
Geraniums are a more upright hanging basket plant. They feature large bold blooms in vibrant colors, like red, pink, purple, and white. Geraniums are also a sun lover, but they can tolerate a surprising amount of shade. It is essential to deadhead geraniums to encourage continuous blooming all season long. We especially like geraniums as a hanging basket plant when paired with a trailing foliage plant, like Goldilocks Creeping Jenny.
Boston Fern is a dramatic and elegant hanging basket plant for shady and humid locations. While they don’t feature colorful blooms, true Boston ferns make quite a statement all on their own with their large, sprawling fronds. They can grow up to 3 feet across and 3 feet tall! Make sure to keep their soil evenly moist.
There are a few things you’ll want to do to make sure your hanging baskets have a successful season. Get your hanging baskets started as soon as possible, so they can start to fill out early. If you want a really lush and full-looking arrangement, pack multiple plants into each of your baskets. For a 14” hanging basket, a minimum of 3-5 plants in 2-4 inch pots is recommended. It might seem a bit crowded, but it will ensure your basket fills up and doesn’t have any gaps. One more important thing to remember with hanging baskets is that they require frequent watering. With that many plants crammed into a relatively small bit of soil, the water gets used up fast. It’s a good idea to check the soil in your hanging baskets with your finger every day. If they’re only slightly damp, it’s a good idea to water. On particularly hot or windy days, you may need to water twice a day.
Don’t limit your gardening to just the ground this year; bring it up to eye level with some hanging baskets! If you need supplies for hanging baskets, from soil to pots to plants, stop by the garden center.
