The Best Hanging Basket Flowers That Love Shade

In this article, we will go through the best plants for shaded hanging baskets which we saw, grew, and inspected. Some of the best of the best are:

Fuchsia, Begonia, Impatiens, Lobelia, Torenia, English Ivy, and Coleus.

These selections thrive in shaded areas and bring life and color to spaces away from direct sunlight.

Torenia

Torenia, or the wishbone flower has a kind of trumpet-shaped blooms that we found in colors like purple, pink, and white. The plants grow up to 15-30cm (6-12in) in hanging baskets. They thrive in moist, well-drained soil and are perfect as shade plants for those humid, shady hanging planters.

Impatiens

These ornamental plants reach up to 15-30 cm (6-12 in) and are a popular choice for borders. They flourish in partial to full shade with moist, well-drained soil. Impatiens provide a continuous burst of color throughout the summer, making them a go-to for brightening up full-shade areas.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen with its pink, red and white heart-shaped leaves is good for winter and early spring. The shade loving plant for hanging baskets can grow up to 15-20cm (6-8in) tall. It requires well-draining soil and minimal water.

Pansy

Pansies are shade annuals for cooler, shaded hanging baskets, with their heart-shaped petals displaying a wide range of colors. Growing to about 15-23cm (6-9in) in height, pansies prefer cool temperatures and moist, well-drained soil. Their colorful look can brighten up any shaded spot in spring, summer, and fall.

Fuchsia

Fuchsias have Drooping, bell-like flowers, from deep purples to reds and also work well as full sun flowers for hanging baskets. Ideal for hanging baskets in shaded areas, they can extend up to 30-60cm (12-24in) long. Fuchsias work best in a cooler, sheltered spot with consistent moisture, for the best blooms throughout the warmer months of summer.

English Ivy

English Ivy, with its ability to climb up to 20-30 m (65-100 ft), is a classic choice for vertical gardens in shade. It prefers partial to full shade and well-drained soil. The climbing shade plant is known for being a dark green leafy foliage plant, which provides year-round greenery. The plant is ideal for covering spaces and walls.

Lobelia

Lobelias, with their white to purple flowers, are great additions to shade gardens and hanging baskets, reaching lengths of 20-25cm (8-10in). This plant loves cooler temperatures similar to Fuchsia and consistently moist soil. It works best in early spring and fall.

Begonias Plant

Begonias, with their wide variety of leaf shapes and colors, are ideal flowers to plant in a hanging basket. They typically grow to about 30-40 cm (1-1.3 ft) and thrive in filtered light with well-drained soil. Begonia Plants have an outstanding foliage with flowers, which offer long-lasting color in shaded areas.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum, reaching a height of 10-15 cm (4-6 in), works best in partial shade and well-drained soil. This plant is excellent for filling gaps in hanging planters or your DIY hanging basket. Alyssums add a nice splash of white, pink, or purple blooms which attract pollinators so it is extra important to maintain your hanging planter.

Coleus

Coleuses are colorful shade garden plants with a lot of leaf colors and patterns. Coleus can be easily combined with other shade-loving plants for a vibrant display. This leafy plant with its stunningly colorful foliage, can grow up to 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) and thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil.

Sources

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1. Torenia: Torenia - Wikipedia

2. Coleus: Coleus scutellarioides | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

3. Lobelia: Lobelia erinus (Lobelia) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

4. English Ivy: Hedera helix | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

5. Pansy: Viola tricolor | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

6. Cyclamen: Cyclamen hederifolium | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

7. Fuchsia: Fuchsia magellanica | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

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Calin Oancea

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Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows much about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.