Trailing plants cascade from hanging baskets, shelves and tall stands. They brighten empty corners, hide cables and keep windowsills free. Here are 12 of the best trailing houseplants, both foliage and flowering, which tolerate shade and which want sun, and how to care for plants in hanging pots.
More on this topic: houseplants: names and care, pothos, hoya.
Pothos: the easiest vine, grows even in partial shade and roots in water; see pothos varieties and care.
Spider plant: arching leaves and babies on long runners; fast-growing and easy to divide.
Heartleaf philodendron: heart-shaped leaves, as shade-tolerant as pothos.
Ivy (Hedera): likes cool, humid air and struggles near radiators. See English ivy care.
Tradescantia: striped purple and silver stems that grow fast and root easily.
Satin pothos: matte leaves with silver spots, as if frosted. The Boston fern is often grown as a trailing plant too.
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus): strands of bead-like leaves; water only when the soil is completely dry.
String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii): thin trails of tiny hearts up to 2–3 m long.
More drought-tolerant plants: succulents at home.
Hoya: starry, fragrant clusters; don't move it in bloom or cut old flower spurs. See hoya care and flowering.
Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus): bright red tubular flowers; likes warmth and humidity.
Trailing fuchsia: 'ballerina' flowers all summer; needs a cool winter rest.
These plants can trail or climb a support such as a moss pole, ladder or hoop:
The fastest growers are pothos, syngonium, tradescantia and spider plant, which can put on up to a metre of growth in a season.
[photo: a monstera on a moss pole]
[photo: syngonium and cissus on a ladder by a window]
Sun-loving flowering annuals suit summer hanging baskets on balconies and terraces:
Plant them out after the spring frosts, water daily in hot weather and feed every 1–2 weeks with a flowering-plant fertiliser.
[photo: a hanging basket of petunias and calibrachoa on a balcony]
It's warmer and drier near the ceiling, so hanging pots dry out faster; check the soil more often.
Choose a basket with a saucer or a drained inner pot so water doesn't drip.
Turn the pot every 1–2 weeks for even growth and pinch tips in spring for a fuller plant.
Most vine cuttings root easily in water, so one basket can become several. General care: houseplants: names and care. For desks and sills, see also small houseplants.
Looking for a living gift that lasts for months? A potted orchid is a great choice for home or office.
See houseplants and orchids.
Plants with long hanging stems grown in hanging baskets or on high shelves.
Pothos and spider plant; both cope with partial shade and missed waterings.
Hoya, lipstick plant and trailing fuchsia, plus petunias and calibrachoa on a summer balcony.
Air near the ceiling is warmer and drier; water more often and choose bigger pots.
Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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