The best fast-growing trailing plants for hanging baskets

June is here, so naturally it’s got me thinking about hanging baskets for my garden and what plants to put in them.

Creating structure is a must, so I always follow the thriller, filler, spiller rule for foolproof results when choosing plants. But to make baskets look fuller, quicker, choosing the right ‘spiller’ plants is the key.

‘When choosing fast-growing trailing flowering plants for hanging baskets (the spiller element), it’s all about picking varieties that will quickly fill out the space and create plenty of movement and colour throughout the season,’ says Duncan McLean, Horticulture Buyer at B&Q.

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‘Plants like calibrachoa, bacopa and trailing verbena are great options for hanging basket plants because they establish quickly and spill beautifully over the sides of baskets, helping you achieve that full, overflowing look faster,’ adds Duncan. ‘And many trailing varieties are also well suited to baskets, window boxes and containers, making them ideal for smaller outdoor spaces too.’

1. Calibrachoa

‘When it comes to how to plant up a hanging basket, to get the best results, think about creating layers by combining trailing plants with upright varieties (or thrillers) in the centre for height and impact and bushier plants to fill out your basket,’ advises Duncan. ‘Calibrachoa is especially useful if you want lots of colour and comes in a spectrum of shades.’

Known as ‘million bells’, Calibrachoa is also a prolific bloomer and produces dozens of trumpet-like blooms that resemble mini petunia flowers cascading over the edges of pots and hanging baskets. Buy Calibrachoa as plug plants (I love these Calibrachoa Million Bells Super MixMillion Bells, from £9.99 at J.Parker’s) and position around the rim of your hanging basket so that they can trail easily over the edges. And deadhead regularly for continuous blooms.

Where to buy calibrachoa:

2. Bacopa

One of my favourite low-maintenance plants for pots and hanging baskets, bacopa looks super-pretty with its tiny white, pink or purple daisy-like blooms and lush green foliage. The Bacopa ‘Baristo® Snowflake’Sutera diffusus, from £10.99 at Thompson & Morgan, is already in my basket.

No deadheading is needed with bacopa, just a light trim if it gets too long, and bacopa will stay in flower from late spring through to autumn, making it a great value-for-money plant.

‘It’s worth remembering that hanging baskets dry out much quicker than pots on the ground, especially during warmer weather, so regular watering to keep hanging baskets hydrated is key,’ adds Duncan. ‘On hot days, that could mean watering once in the morning and again in the evening.’

Where to buy bacopa:

3. Trailing verbena

‘Trailing verbena is another great pick for hanging baskets, creating long-lasting displays that work brilliantly in sunny spots,’ says Duncan.

Trailing verbena flowers abundantly in a vibrant choice of rich reds, purples, pinks and white and will provide non-stop colour for months in hanging baskets and containers. But like many summer bedding plants, trailing verbena isn’t hardy, so it won’t survive a frost.

‘When it comes to looking after hanging baskets, in addition to frequent watering, use a peat-free compost with added water retention, like this Verve multi-purpose compost, £12 at B&Q, and feed little and often through the growing season – this will all help encourage stronger growth, more flowers and healthier plants,’ advises Duncan. ‘With the right mix and a bit of regular care, you can create a fabulous display that looks full and established in just a few weeks.’

Where to buy trailing verbena:

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4. Petunias

‘If you want hanging baskets to look full quickly, I’d go for trailing petunias, calibrachoa, verbena or bacopa,’ says Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres. ‘They’re all brilliant because they grow fast, flower well and give you that lovely spilling-over effect without much fuss.’

Petunias are one of the most popular summer flowers for hanging baskets and containers, with vigorous growth and vibrant, long-lasting blooms that trail beautifully. The frilly blue Petunia ‘Frills & Spills Belinda’, from £9.99 at Thompson & Morgan, is particularly beautiful. Petunias like a sunny spot and frequent watering and will flower continuously through the summer months. Just remember to deadhead petunias, pinching out the spent flowers regularly.

Where to buy petunias:

5. Lobelia

‘Lobelia is another good trailing plant pick for hanging baskets and containers if you want something a bit softer and more relaxed,’ suggests Julian.

With masses of tiny purple, blue or white blooms that spill over the edges of hanging baskets, tubs and troughs, lobelia works well on its own in a container, or can be partnered with an upright ‘thriller’ plant like a geranium (I love the Geranium Jackpot, £12.99 at Thompson & Morgan for its mix of striking colours) or fuchsia for a more structured display.

‘The main thing with baskets is not letting them dry out,’ adds Julian. ‘Plant them fairly generously, use a moisture-retentive compost, and start feeding once they’re established – this Feed for Hanging Baskets and Tubs, £4.99, at Amazon is ideal. Baskets definitely need a bit of attention once summer kicks in and during warm weather spells, they may need watering every day.’

Where to buy lobelia:

6. Trailing geraniums

As an alternative to growing upright geraniums that make a good ‘thriller’ element in containers and hanging baskets, you can achieve the ‘spiller’ effect by choosing trailing geraniums (also known as ivy-leaf pelargoniums) that will spill over the sides and add fullness. The Geranium ‘Balcon Mix’, from £19.99 from Thompson & Morgan, is a stunner.

Easy to grow and often still blooming long after summer baskets have finished, trailing geraniums have stiff, fleshy leaves that tumble down the sides of containers, teamed with cheery single or double-formed flowers that come in vibrant shades of pink, red and white.

Trailing geraniums thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Between waterings, let the soil dry out partially, as they are drought-tolerant and prone to root rot if they get soggy.

Where to buy trailing geraniums:

7. Busy Lizzies

Busy lizzies (or impatiens) are a much-loved container flower with their cheery long-lasting blooms that flower right through summer and into early autumn. With single or double-flowered varieties and in shades of red, orange, purple and pink (Beacon Raspberry Sundae Mixed, from £12.99 at Thompson & Morgan is a favourite), they flower best in full sun or part shade.

In hanging baskets, colourful busy lizzies contrast well against darker-coloured foliage or alongside tinier flowers like lobelia and aubretia to add visual variety.

When thinking about flower pairings for containers, make it easier by choosing plants that have the same requirements, such as all sun-loving plants together or all shade-loving plants in the same container. This ensures your plants are kept happy when they’re planted together in the same spot.

Where to buy Busy Lizzies:

Do you have hanging baskets in your summer planting plan? Let us know what trailing plants you’ll be using.