It’s no secret that the entire Fleurtations team is totally hanging-basket-obsessed – how could we not be? These gorgeous displays are a brilliant way to bring life, colour and fragrance to porches, balconies, patios, and even plain walls.

We install and maintain hundreds of beautiful baskets all around the country, so we understand how important it is to choose the right plants – for your needs and the temperamental UK climate – so your baskets look beautiful all season long.

So, below is our ultimate add-to-basket list – the best plants, chosen by our horticulturists, that we put into our hanging baskets every year. We guarantee these picks will give you vibrant flowers, trailing greenery, and seasonal flair!

Petunia is a genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. Petunia Night Sky

🌸 1. Petunias

Petunias are classic hanging basket favourites for a reason. Trailing varieties like Surfinia and Wave offer a cascade of colourful, trumpet-shaped blooms that flower continuously from late spring to the first frost. We particularly love Grandifloras, and the spectacularly speckled “Night Sky”.

Lobelia. Blue tail Lobelia sapphire flowers. Edging Lobelia. Flowers as backgrounds.

🌼 2. Lobelia

With their delicate, dainty flowers in shades of blue, white, purple, and pink, lobelias are perfect for adding soft colour and texture. Trailing lobelia spills beautifully over basket edges, while upright types add structure. We love to combine trailing and upright lobelia – you can never have too much of these beauties!

Red fuchsia flower on green leaf background.

🌺 3. Fuchsias

Fuchsias are a firm UK favourite thanks to their elegant, pendulous blooms. Available in upright or trailing forms, they thrive in the British climate and tolerate cooler, shadier spots better than many summer annuals. We make sure to pinch back their stems to encourage bushier growth and full baskets.

white bacopa flowers with yellow centers blooming in garden with soft focus background

🌿 4. Bacopa

Bacopa, or water hyssop, produces hundreds of tiny white, pink, or lavender blooms that tumble charmingly over the sides of baskets. It flowers prolifically, pairs beautifully with showier blooms, and – most importantly – it’s a great plant for pollinators!

calibrachoa Million Bells flower background

🌸 5. Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa (Million Bells or Superbells) are often mistaken for tiny petunias, but they are an entirely different species! Their tiny flowers provide great foliage, and they have fantastic basket benefits: long blooming, no deadheading, and weather tolerance. They also come in unique bicolours like yellow and purple!

🌿 6. Ivy

To add full, lush, and evergreen trailing foliage, you can’t go wrong with ivy. It adds a rich green backdrop to seasonal flowering plants. For added visual interest, we choose variegated types which complement the unique blooms of each basket.

red Pelargonium in the garden. Red geranium flowers in summer garden. Bright pelargonium

🌸 7. Geraniums

Geraniums are sun-loving, drought-tolerant, and flower all summer long. Ivy-leaf types are especially suited for hanging baskets due to their trailing growth habit. As well as regular watering, we make sure to remove faded flowers to encourage even more blooms!

🌿 8. Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum’s need for good air circulation makes it perfect for growing in hanging baskets and large, upright containers. This compact, fragrant flower forms a low mound that gently spills over basket edges, which looks lovely as a filler between bolder blooms. It’s pollinator-friendly and tolerates light shade well.

Many beautiful begonia semperflorens (Wax begonia, Begonia conchita) flowers close up. Pink petals and leaves and yellow pistils. Natural organic background top view.

🌺 9. Begonias

Begonias are incredibly versatile, thriving in both shade and sun, and offering lush foliage alongside ruffled, colourful flowers. We love the tuberous or trailing varieties for best hanging basket results.

🌼 10. Osteospermum

Osteospermum produces very impressive daisy-like blooms which are sure to boost any basket. They are relatively low-maintenance, sun-loving, and drought-tolerant. Plus, their trailing growth habit makes them perfect for hanging, and they come in a variety of strikingly beautiful colours!

From dazzling petunias to delicate lobelia and lush ivy, the possibilities for hanging baskets in the UK are almost endless. Whether you’re after a soft cottage garden look or a bold splash of summer colour, the right combination of plants can transform even the smallest outdoor space.

What will you plant in your hanging baskets this season?

Basketful of Bliss: Our Top Ten Favourite Flowers for Hanging Planters