30 Best Trailing Foliage Plants for Hanging Baskets and Windowboxes

This list of Best Trailing Foliage Plants can be of great help in decorating your balcony or patio with graceful cascading plants!

Spiller plants add a visual drama to any space when you include them in hanging baskets or containers where they flow a green delight of awesomeness to the surroundings. These Best Trailing Foliage Plants can be a great addition to your workplace or home!

Check out our article on trailing succulents here

Best Trailing Foliage Plants

1. Red Rhipsalis

Botanical Name: Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa

Also famous as the Red mistletoe cactus, its deep red-violet semi-succulent foliage can be a stunning addition to the hanging baskets.

2. Coleus

Botanical Name: Solenostemon ‘Red Trailing Queen’

Coleus is one of the best foliage plants, and you can grow it in hanging baskets as well. Learn about the various types of coleus plants here.

3. Peperomia Ruby Cascade

Botanical Name: Peperomia ‘Ruby Cascade’

Its leaves carry a combination of two colors – deep green on the top side and ruby-red on the undersides. Growing it in baskets adds a dab of color and texture.

4. Nasturtium 

Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majus

The trailing stems of Nasturtium look perfect while dangling down from containers with pad-like leaves and beautiful bright flowers.

Here are some great Nasturtium benefits and uses

5. Ferns

Botanical Name: Polypodiopsida

There are many trailing ferns with beautiful foliage attractions that you can try. Some of them are listed here.

6. Dichondra Silver Falls

Botanical Name: Dichondra argentea

Siver Falls Dichondra has unique, silver pale-green trailing leaves that look pretty in hanging baskets. It’s a fast-growing plant.

Check out our article on Awesome Cascading Plants in Home Pictures here

7. Sweet Potato Vine

Botanical Name: Ipomea batatas

Sweet potato vines spill marvelously over the sides of containers with heart-shaped or oak-like leaves having colors from chartreuse to nearly black.

8. Creeping Charlie

Botanical Name: Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’

The pale green leaves of this plant have an unusual heart-kidney shape that gives it an interesting look while they dangle on the trailing stems.

9. Fuchsia

Botanical Name: Fuchsia ‘Tom West’

With a fabulous color combination of green and yellow striped foliage, this plant is a true eye-catcher.

10. Creeping Jenny

Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’

‘Aurea’ beautifully cascades with its small rounded leaves having wavy borders and thin trailing stems. It is also a winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit.

11. Jade Vine

Botanical Name: Strongylodon macrobotrys

Looking stunning in turquoise color, which is the result of malvin and saponarin pigments in its leaves. The plant grows gorgeous hanging stems making it a must-grow trailing vine.

Read more about 12 Beautiful Golden Plants for Hanging Baskets here

12. Licorice Plant

Botanical Name: Helichrysum Petiolare

The cascading ‘Helichrysum Petiolare’ features small felt-like blue-gray trailing foliage that gracefully arches over containers or hanging baskets.

13. Parrot’s Beak

Botanical Name: Lotus berthelotii

‘Parrot’s Beak’ is a trailing perennial with exotic, bright crimson flowers and silver-gray needle-like leaves. It makes for an ideal annual plant for hanging baskets.

Have a look at some Stunning Flowers that Look Like Birds in our article here

14. Pothos

Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum

Popularly known as devil’s ivy, heart-shaped and glossy leaves in the green shade with yellow or cream blotches cascade marvelously in hanging baskets or containers in rooms.

Here are some of the best pothos to grow indoors

15. Philodendron

Botanical Name: Philodendron 

This trailing beauty shows off heart-shaped green leaves that drape exquisitely over windowsills, bookshelves, and hanging baskets.

Here is everything you need to know about growing Philodendron

16. Wojo’s Gem Periwinkle

Botanical Name: Vinca major ‘Wojo’s Gem’

Also known as trailing vinca, it has shiny oval leaves in a cream-yellow shade and matching lavender-blue flowers, which create a dazzling contrast when it trails from containers.

17. Spider Plant

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum

Spider plant grows fast and produces baby plants that dangle pleasingly from hanging baskets. It also removes airborne pollutants from the air, making it a great indoor plant.

Check out some excellent spider plant benefits here

18. String of Turtles

Botanical Name: Peperomia prostrata

This slow-growing succulent vine has an attractive set of fleshy button-like leaves with white veins that look plump, like they are full of water.

Learn about different types of peperomia here

19. Inch Plant

Botanical Name: Tradescantia

Tradescantia has some amazing trailing plants with beautiful foliage, and it would be a mistake if we mention just one. Check out some of the best varieties here.

20. String of Pearls

Botanical Name: Senecio rowleyanus

A cascading succulent, it truly lives up to its name with fleshy, bright-green plump leaves that look like spherical, marble-like rows of little balls. Can be a great indoor plant too!

21. Sweet Caroline Purple

Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’

This can be a great colorful addition to the summer baskets or containers with its dark burgundy-purple color and texture with an interesting pattern of leaves.

22. Turtle Vine

Botanical Name: Callisia repens

The leaves of this succulent come in twin colors, with a shade of green above and a slight hue of purple below that gives it a contrasting look.

23. Burro’s Tail

Botanical Name: Sedum morganianum

Display the beautiful, lush foliage of Burro’s Tail in window boxes. It will be more than happy to thrive in direct sunlight all day long.

24. Rope Hoya

Botanical Name: Hoya Carnosa ‘Compacta’

Rope Hoya is another sought-after variety of the wax plant that displays deep glossy, green leaves that are twisted and curled into draping, thick vines.

Know everything about 24 DIY Rope Plant Hanger Ideas here

25. Cherry Tomatoes

Botanical Name: Solanum Lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

Cherry tomatoes are cute little plants that you can easily grow on a sunny window box. The best part is that you will have a steady and fresh supply for your kitchen all the time!

Bonus!

Here are plants that have stunning foliage with flowers to match. They will look great on a window box or a hanging basket.

26. Black-Eyed Susan

Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta

The Black-Eyed Susan looks impressive with white, yellow, lively orange blossoms with dark centers. This tender perennial is typically grown as an annual.

Learn about the 20 Best Flowering Houseplants in our post here!

27. Lobelia

Botanical Name: Lobelia

If you love bright flowers, then lobelia is one of the best choices for window boxes. Just ensure it gets plenty of sunlight, as it will help it bloom profusely!

28. Chenille Plant

Botanical Name: Acalypha hispida

Chenilles are popular for their bright red flowers that resemble a cat’s tail and droop down beautifully. You can grow it in hanging baskets and railing planters.

29. Verbena

Botanical Name: Verbena

Trailing Verbena is a pretty trailing plant with lush foliage and one that needs minimal care. It displays a cluster of striking blooms in shades of whites, pinks, reds, and purples.

Check out our recommendation for Plants for West and East Facing Balcony Garden here

30. Goldfish Plant

Botanical Name: Nematanthus gregarious

The Goldfish plant is an exceptional trailing plant with yellow or bright orange flowers in the shape of a goldfish.