Hanging baskets are a stylish and practical way to add color, texture, and natural beauty to your indoor spaces. Whether you’re working with a sunny window or a shaded nook, there’s a flowering plant perfectly suited to thrive above eye level. Not only do they save floor and shelf space, but they also create a stunning visual display that lifts the eye—and the mood.
From cascading blooms to compact bursts of color, the right plants can transform ordinary baskets into living works of art. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best indoor flowering plants for hanging baskets, with care tips to keep them thriving year-round.
Table of Contents
1. Bromeliads
With their striking, tropical flair, bromeliads are a bold and colorful choice for hanging baskets. These plants produce bright, long-lasting blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple, adding a dramatic touch to any indoor setting. Their rosette-shaped foliage holds water in the center cup, making them both beautiful and functional in retaining moisture.
They adapt well to a variety of indoor environments, especially when placed near indirect light sources. Their upright growth habit is balanced by their vibrant bracts, making them an eye-catching feature when suspended in decorative baskets.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Fill central cup and refresh weekly; keep soil lightly moist
- Humidity: Enjoys higher humidity but tolerates average indoor levels
- Temperature: 60–80°F (16–27°C)
2. Lipstick Plant
The lipstick plant is a favorite for indoor hanging baskets, thanks to its trailing vines and vibrant red tubular flowers that peek out like little tubes of lipstick—hence the name. Its glossy green leaves create a beautiful contrast with the blooms, making it an ideal choice for brightening up indoor corners or windows.
Native to tropical regions, this plant thrives in warm, humid environments and rewards consistent care with blooms throughout the year. Its cascading nature makes it a natural fit for elevated baskets, where its flowers can dangle freely and catch the eye.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, filtered light (avoid harsh sun)
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist during growing season; reduce in winter
- Humidity: Prefers high humidity
- Temperature: 65–75°F (18–24°C)
3. Impatiens
Known for their cheerful, colorful blooms, impatiens are a fantastic choice for indoor hanging baskets, especially in low-light areas. These flowers come in a wide variety of shades—from soft pastels to bold reds and purples—and bloom generously, even in shaded conditions.
Their compact size and bushy growth make them easy to manage in baskets, while their non-stop blooming habit adds a lively touch to any space. They’re especially great for brightening up dull corners or hallways that don’t receive much natural sunlight.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Low to moderate indirect light
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy
- Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity
- Temperature: 60–75°F (16–24°C)
4. Begonia
Begonias are beloved for their brilliant flowers and attractive foliage, making them one of the most versatile plants for indoor hanging baskets. With varieties ranging from wax begonias to tuberous and rex types, you can choose between delicate blooms or striking leaves—or enjoy both in one plant.
They thrive in well-ventilated areas with soft, filtered light, and their ability to flower throughout the year makes them a favorite among indoor gardeners. In hanging baskets, their cascading forms and colorful flowers create a soft, elegant display that feels both classic and vibrant.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Allow top inch of soil to dry between watering
- Humidity: Likes higher humidity, but good air circulation is key
- Temperature: 65–75°F (18–24°C)
5. Chenille Plant
If you’re looking to add bold texture and a bit of whimsy to your indoor hanging baskets, the chenille plant is a standout choice. Its fuzzy, bright red flowers resemble caterpillars or tassels, creating a dramatic and exotic look as they spill over the sides of the basket.
This fast-growing plant thrives in warm, sunny spots and produces its signature blooms almost year-round with proper care. Its lush foliage combined with the soft, dangling flowers makes it a conversation piece in any room.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light or partial sun
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist during active growth
- Humidity: Needs high humidity to bloom well
- Temperature: 65–80°F (18–27°C)
6. Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a festive favorite that adds seasonal charm and vibrant blooms to indoor hanging baskets. Known for its flattened, segmented stems and vivid pink, red, or white flowers, it typically blooms around the holidays—bringing a splash of color during the winter months.
Unlike desert cacti, this plant hails from tropical forests and prefers more moisture and humidity. Its graceful, arching stems make it ideal for hanging arrangements, where the blooms can fully show off their elegant form.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry; reduce watering after blooming
- Humidity: Enjoys moderate humidity
- Temperature: 60–70°F (16–21°C); avoid sudden temperature drops
7. Trailing Kalanchoe
The trailing kalanchoe is a delightful succulent known for its cascading stems and clusters of small, cheerful flowers. Perfect for hanging baskets, this variety brings both greenery and bright color into your space, all while being incredibly low-maintenance.
Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, making it drought-tolerant and ideal for busy plant lovers. During blooming season, you’ll enjoy waves of red, pink, orange, or yellow flowers that add a sunny feel to any room.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright light, including some direct sun
- Water: Allow soil to dry between watering
- Humidity: Tolerates dry indoor air well
- Temperature: 60–85°F (16–29°C); avoid frost
8. Fuchsia
Known for its elegant, bell-shaped blossoms, fuchsia adds a romantic touch to indoor hanging baskets. The flowers come in stunning combinations of pink, purple, red, and white, gracefully dangling from trailing stems like delicate ornaments.
Though traditionally grown outdoors, many fuchsia varieties adapt well to indoor environments with proper care. Their cascading habit makes them perfect for elevated planters where their blossoms can truly shine.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light; avoid intense midday sun
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy
- Humidity: Prefers higher humidity for best blooming
- Temperature: 60–75°F (16–24°C); avoid cold drafts
9. Wax Plant
The wax plant, also known as Hoya, is a charming vining houseplant admired for its thick, glossy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers. These fragrant blooms often appear in soft pinks or whites and have a waxy texture—hence the name.
Ideal for hanging baskets, the wax plant’s trailing stems and sweet-scented blooms create a soft, romantic effect. It’s a slow grower, but once established, it’s incredibly easy to care for and can live for many years with minimal fuss.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Allow soil to dry out between watering
- Humidity: Enjoys moderate to high humidity
- Temperature: 65–80°F (18–27°C); protect from cold drafts
10. Moth Orchids
Elegant and long-lasting, moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are among the most popular indoor orchids—and they’re surprisingly well-suited for hanging baskets. Their arching flower spikes, which resemble fluttering moths, add a graceful touch to any room.
These orchids are low-maintenance and thrive in low to medium light, making them ideal for indoor environments. With proper care, their blooms can last for several months, bringing color and serenity to your hanging displays.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Low to medium indirect light
- Water: Water weekly; allow media to dry slightly between watering
- Humidity: Loves high humidity; mist regularly or use a humidity tray
- Temperature: 65–75°F (18–24°C); avoid sudden changes
11. African Violet
African violets are compact, colorful, and a perfect match for hanging baskets when planted in shallow containers or suspended pot inserts. These charming plants are known for their velvety leaves and frequent blooming cycles, often producing delicate purple, pink, or white flowers year-round.
They’re ideal for brightening up kitchens, bathrooms, or living rooms with indirect light. Their small size and tidy growth habit make them easy to manage, even for beginners.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light; avoid direct sun
- Water: Keep soil lightly moist; water from the bottom to avoid leaf spotting
- Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity
- Temperature: 65–75°F (18–24°C)
12. Creeping Gloxinia
Delicate and graceful, creeping gloxinia is a lesser-known gem for hanging baskets. With its velvety, trailing foliage and soft, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, or lavender, it brings a gentle, romantic feel to indoor spaces.
This plant thrives in bright but indirect light and prefers a slightly humid environment, making it perfect for well-lit bathrooms or cozy sunrooms. Its creeping habit allows it to spill elegantly over the edges of a basket, creating a lush, flowing effect.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid soggy roots
- Humidity: Likes moderate humidity
- Temperature: 65–75°F (18–24°C)
13. Purple Shamrock
The purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) is a striking and unique plant that adds bold color to indoor hanging baskets. Its deep purple, clover-like leaves fold up at night and open during the day, adding movement and interest. In spring and summer, it produces dainty pink or white flowers that contrast beautifully against its dark foliage.
Perfect for modern or minimalist interiors, this plant provides an unexpected pop of color while remaining easy to care for. Its compact, spreading nature works wonderfully in small to medium-sized baskets.
🌿 Care Tips:
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry
- Humidity: Tolerates average indoor humidity
- Temperature: 60–75°F (16–24°C); allow dormancy in winter if needed
FAQ – Hanging Baskets for Indoor Flowering Plants
🪴 What size hanging basket is best for indoor plants?
Most indoor flowering plants thrive in 8- to 12-inch baskets, depending on their root system and growth habit. Smaller plants like African violets do well in compact baskets, while trailing plants like fuchsia may benefit from deeper or wider containers.
🌞 How much light do indoor hanging baskets need?
This depends on the plant. Bright, indirect light is best for most flowering varieties. Position baskets near east- or north-facing windows, or use grow lights in darker rooms. Always match light levels to each plant’s specific needs.
💧 How often should I water plants in hanging baskets?
Hanging baskets can dry out faster than floor pots due to better air circulation. Check moisture levels every few days by feeling the soil. Most plants prefer the soil to be slightly moist but not soggy.
🌿 Can I mix different plants in one basket?
It’s possible, but only if the plants have similar light, water, and temperature needs. Otherwise, one plant may suffer while the other thrives. For ease, it’s best to plant one variety per basket.
🧴 Do indoor hanging plants need fertilizer?
Yes—use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season (spring to early fall). Avoid overfeeding, especially in winter, when growth naturally slows.
Conclusion
Hanging baskets offer a beautiful and practical way to elevate your indoor garden—literally and figuratively. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant blooms of fuchsia, the elegance of moth orchids, or the whimsical charm of purple shamrock, there’s a flowering plant suited for every space and style.
By choosing the right plants and providing them with appropriate light, water, and care, your indoor baskets can flourish year-round. These hanging displays not only maximize space but also bring joy, color, and natural elegance to your home from above.
🌿 Love gardening inspiration? Follow me on Pinterest for bold plant ideas, tips, and seasonal color!