Trailing Plants for Pots
Elevate Your Garden with These Trailing Plants Perfect for Pots
In the world of gardening, container gardening has become increasingly popular for its versatility and space-saving benefits. Use trailing plants for pots, containers, and hanging baskets.
With their cascading foliage and flowers, these trailing plants for pots will add a touch of elegance and charm to any garden or balcony. If you’re looking to elevate your gardening experience, consider incorporating these trailing plants into your pots or a hanging basket for a stunning display.
Some work better in full sun while others will need part shade, but be assured there is a trailing plant that will work for you! Now I confess this list touches the surface of choices available but these are some of my personal favorites.
Plants in pots thrive in well-drained soil. Many of these are suggested as spiller plants in outdoor containers.
Trailing Plants for Foliage
Ivy (Hedera spp.)
Ivy is a classic trailing plant with various varieties, including English Ivy, offering different leaf shapes and colors. It’s resilient, easy to care for, and the evergreen foliage looks gorgeous cascading down the sides of hanging pots.
Be careful with Ivy, it can become invasive. I only grow it in pots or containers and make sure never to let it touch the ground.
String of Pearls plants (Senecio rowleyanus)
This unique succulent features spherical leaves resembling pearls on a string, providing an interesting and eye-catching texture. String of Pearls is drought-tolerant and thrives in bright, indirect light.
Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas):
The sweet potato vine is a fast-growing, low-maintenance trailing plant with heart-shaped leaves that come in various colors, including chartreuse, deep purple, and variegated patterns.
Though typically grown for their foliage some even bloom with purple flowers. They can steal the show spilling over the edge of the container.
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)
Wandering Jew is a popular and easy-to-grow trailing plant with attractive, variegated foliage. It’s a resilient choice for both indoor and outdoor containers, thriving in bright, indirect light. There are a few different varieties so shop around.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny, with its golden-yellow foliage, is a delightful addition to trailing plants for pots. It thrives in moist soil and adds a bright pop of color to your container garden, especially when paired with other complementary plants. Outdoors creeping jenny can even do well in low light.
Dichondra Silver Falls:
Silver Falls is prized for its cascading and silver-gray foliage. The leaves are circular and resemble miniature silver coins, creating a waterfall-like effect as the stems trail down.
There is also one called Emerald Falls, both make a great ground cover as well as spilling plants!
Spider plant:
Spider plant is a tender perennial and is often used as an indoor plant. During the summer months, you can take it outdoors and add it to a hanging planter.
Wait until late spring after all chance of frost to take it outdoors. Many indoor plants can be summered outdoors.
Devil’s Ivy – Pothos
The plant features heart-shaped leaves that are typically variegated with shades of green, yellow, or white. The leaves grow on trailing vines that can become quite long.
A very popular beginner houseplant as it is so easy to grow but it will also do well outdoors in the summer. Just remember to bring it back inside before the nighttime temps drop into the low 50s.
Coral Sedum
Two of my favorite coral sedums for trailing in pots are Angelina (Sedum Rupestre) and Lemon Coral (Sedum Mexicanum).
Angelia is more cold tolerant and can become a bully in the landscape given the right conditions whereas the Lemon Coral remains more subdued yet both make great trailing plants in containers.
I especially love the citrusy punch of color they bring to the design.
Flowering Trailing Plants for Pots
Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
Known for its vibrant blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, trailing lobelia is perfect for adding a splash of color to your pots. It’s an excellent choice for both hanging baskets and window boxes.
Trailing Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum):
Trailing geraniums are prized for their colorful blooms and trailing habit. They thrive in well-draining soil and are perfect for both containers and hanging baskets.
I grew a ton from seed last year!
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus):
Nasturtiums have vibrant, edible flowers and offer trailing foliage that spills over the edges of pots. They’re easy to grow and attract pollinators to your garden. They prefer direct sunlight but will also grow in light shade.
Trailing Petunias (Petunia spp.):
Trailing petunias come in a wide range of colors and bloom profusely throughout the growing season. They’re perfect for hanging baskets and containers, adding a burst of color and fragrance.
Some of my favorites are Wave Petunias which I grow from seed! They are a fast-growing plant that also makes a wonderful ground cover.
All the best garden tips
Grow Petunias from Seed!
In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to grow petunias from seed easily and successfully, this includes Wave Petunias. So get ready to plant some seeds and watch them grow!
Bacopa (Sutera cordata):
Bacopa, also known as Sutera, produces small, five-petaled flowers that cover the plant in a carpet of color. It’s one of the best plants for hanging baskets and containers in partial shade.
Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.):
Fuchsia plants are known for their pendulous, tubular flowers and are a great way to attract hummingbirds.
They do well in containers and hanging baskets, offering a touch of elegance with their vibrant blooms.
String of Hearts:
The plant has long, trailing stems that can reach several feet in length. The leaves are small and shaped like hearts, typically about the size of a fingernail. The leaves are often variegated with shades of green, silver, and purple.
Enhance the beauty of your garden or balcony with these beautiful trailing plants, each makes a great addition and visual appeal as container plants or outdoor hanging plants.
Whether you prefer vibrant blooms, interesting foliage, or a combination of both, the best trailing plants for pots will transform your space into a lush and enchanting oasis.
Experiment with different combinations and arrangements to create a personalized garden that reflects your style and creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new plants as you discover them.
Do you have any favorite trailing plants to add to your pots and containers?
Happy gardening!
