Top 15+ cascading flowers that thrive in containers
Let these trailing flowers spill from hanging baskets, window boxes, and porch planters.
Key Takeaways
- Use cascading blooms like Million Bells and Ivy Geranium to create overflowing floral displays in containers.
- The choice of flowers can vary from vibrant hot pinks in spring to cooler whites and blues in summer.
- Most of these flowers require well-draining, moist soil and a range of sun exposures, from full sun to partial shade.
We all know the fill, thrill, and spill formula for planting mixed containers, but often, it's the spillers that really set the mood. There's something romantic about the sight of flowers languidly cascading over the sides of pots. The abundant blooms soften the atmosphere on your porch or patio as they flutter in the breeze.
There are lots of flowers to choose from that will trail from containers, whether you want hot pink in spring or cool whites and blues in summer. We've compiled a list of cascading bloomers that will keep your planters, hanging baskets, and window boxes overflowing with flowers throughout the growing season.
01 of 15
Million Bells
- Botanical Name: Calibrachoa x hybrida
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Loamy, organically rich, well-drained but moist
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.5)
Million bells is sometimes called trailing petunia because the flowers resemble a mini petunia. The bountiful blooms come in every color and last all summer long until the first frost. Million bells can be grown on its own or tucked into the edges of a mixed container, where stems can trail a foot or more.
02 of 15
Ivy Geranium
- Botanical Name: Pelargonium peltatum
- Sun Exposure: Partial
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5)
Ivy geranium is a bushy plant with thick, ivy-shaped leaves and flower clusters that will cascade over the edges of planters. It is often sold in hanging baskets or pots, as it does best in well-draining soil with even moisture. Ivy geranium is not as heat-tolerant as some geraniums and should be grown in partial shade in the South.
03 of 15
Wishbone Flower
- Botanical Name: Torenia fournieri
- Sun Exposure: Partial, full shade
- Soil Type: Organically rich, well-drained but moist
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)
Wishbone flower will produce loads of small blossoms in the shade until the first frost. The two-toned, trumpet-shaped blooms come in purple, blue, or white with a patch of yellow at the opening of the flower. This plant prefers rich and moist soil. Keep it well-mulched and in a cool spot.
04 of 15
Petunias
- Botanical Name: Petunia x hybrida
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Possibly the most popular summer annual, petunias can be found in every color of the rainbow, as well as striped and speckled. The flowers have been improved in recent years, and many no longer require deadheading to produce continuous blooms. Choose cascading types for the best show of trailing flowers.
05 of 15
Lobelia
- Botanical Name: Lobelia erinus
- Sun Exposure: Full, partial
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-draining but moist
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
This ground-hugging lobelia is usually grown as an annual in cool spring weather. For at least a few months, you can enjoy a vivid blue carpet of flowers and the butterflies it attracts. Grow lobelia in a mixed container so you can replace it with heat-loving flowers once summer arrives.
06 of 15
Begonias
- Botanical Name: Begonia spp.
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shade
- Soil Type: Organically rich, well-drained, moist
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5 and 7.0)
Because of their waxy leaves, begonias thrive in humid summers in the South. Plant begonias in good potting soil and place them where they will get morning sun or dappled shade all day. The stems of angel-wing, dragon-wing, and tuberous begonias bow down under the weight of the pendulous flowers.
07 of 15
Fan Flower
- Botanical Name: Scaevola aemula
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Fan flower is a drought-tolerant tender perennial from Australia, so it won't easily wilt when planted in a pot. This summer flower creeps along to eventually drape over the sides of window boxes and baskets. The unique, fan-shaped flowers come in lavender, blue, pink, or white.
08 of 15
Twinspur
- Botanical Name: Diascia barberae
- Sun Exposure: Full, partial
- Soil Type: Well-drained but moist, organically rich
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5)
Twinspur forms a mat of pink blooms that can grow as a groundcover or trail over the side of containers. The flowers appear from spring to fall, though they may disappear during the summer heat. Shearing the plant will encourage it to bloom again.
09 of 15
Garden Verbena
- Botanical Name: Verbena x hybrida
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (5.8-7.2)
Garden verbena comes in both upright and trailing forms and in shades ranging from white to deep reds and purples. Verbena needs regular watering, but likes soil to be on the dry side. Plants will bloom for months in the sun.
10 of 15
Sweet Alyssum
- Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima
- Sun Exposure: Full, partial
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Sweet alyssum is a popular plant for edging paths that can also be used to cascade from containers. The honey-scented flowers are commonly white but also come in purples and lavenders. Alyssum is an annual that can self-seed in the garden.
11 of 15
Creeping Zinnia
- Botanical Name: Sanvitalia procumbens
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-draining, sandy with organic matter
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Not actually a zinnia, this cheerful yellow annual from Mexico is best grown from seed since it doesn't like transplanting. Sow the seeds directly in a container filled with well-draining soil. The sunflower-like blooms appear throughout summer until the first frost.
12 of 15
Nasturtium
- Botanical Name: Tropaeolum spp.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-draining, low fertility
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral, alkaline (6.0-8.0)
Nasturtium is a classic cottage flower that can bloom for months. Less is more with this plant, as it does not like fertile soil or excessive moisture. Place your pots in full sun in the cooler months, then give them some afternoon shade when it's hot out. Nasturtium leaves and flowers are edible and can be sprinkled in salads.
13 of 15
Hardy Fuschia
- Botanical Name: Fuchsia magellanica
- Sun Exposure: Full, partial
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-draining but moist
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Though technically a deciduous shrub, fuschia is often grown in hanging baskets and containers. The day-glow flowers droop downward, making it ideal to view from below. Fuschia is salt-tolerant and can be grown near the coast, but may do best in cooler conditions in part shade. This plant likes rich, moist soil.
14 of 15
Ice Plant
- Botanical Name: Delosperma
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Sandy, well-draining
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
Ice plant thrives in rock gardens and sandy coastal soils in the sun, but you can also plant it in containers with other succulent plants. Use cactus soil and let it dry between waterings. Be cautious about fertilizing, as nitrogen can interfere with blooming.
15 of 15
Bacopa
- Botanical Name: Chaenostoma cordatum (also known as Bacopa cordata and Sutera cordata)
- Sun Exposure: Partial
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-draining but moist
- Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)
Bacopa is a perennial ground cover in Zone 9 and warmer but is typically grown as an annual in containers. Masses of little white, pink, or lavender blooms appear in summer and fall. Bacopa likes regular moisture, but must have well-draining soil. Plants will spread to 2 feet wide and spill over the edge of containers.
