No type of plant requires as little care as a succulent.
They can survive for MONTHS without a single drop of water. FOR REAL.
And what’s even better, they’re BEAUTIFUL.
Even the rarest or dullest of succulents is a good-looking plant worth having in your garden.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to plant them in hanging baskets on your patio or balcony?
Here’s where hanging succulents enter into play…
These succulents HANG. Laterally, they cascade or trail down the basket. They match with such a setup almost perfectly.
That’s why we wanted to show some of the most sought-after species – so you can have a blast bringing one to your home. Check what we’ve found!
25 Best Succulents for Hanging Baskets
1. Burros Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Let’s start with an obvious one: the Burro’s tail.
Coming from the Spanish “burro,” which means donkey, you may find it a funny name.
But the plant is nowhere funny. It’s just GORGEOUS.
While nothing like the original donkey’s tail, it cascades down beautifully. The plant matches with any hanging pot or basket and will need little to no watering to grow.
As long as it receives 8 hours of sun a day, it will grow in almost any environment (as long as it is not under 0 degrees).
DON’T FORGET THIS: When the plant blooms in late summer, you’ll see gorgeous red-and-white flowers floating around.
2. Calico Kitten (Crassula pellucida)
Some succulents look fantastic wherever you plant them. The Calico Kitten is one of those.
Boasting a broad array of colors, it looks excellent on hanging baskets, garden containers, balconies, and even ground cover. There’s no limit.
In the case of baskets, it’ll look great – with leaves floating all around (and maybe even trailing down).
The best of all? Its purple, greenish, and sometimes creamy colors. As long as it receives sufficient sun exposure, it will stand out as one of the most attractive plants in your garden.
YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS: The plant may bloom in the right environment. You’ll see small yet gorgeous white flowers blossoming beautifully.
3. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
The name comes from its ability to bloom around Christmas time.
That makes it one of the most popular on the list as an indoor plant. And for hanging baskets, it’s almost perfect.
The ruffled succulent leaves trail to the sides, reaching several inches long. In baskets, they tend to cascade over time.
And when the flowers come out… It’s challenging to match it in beauty.
These flowers can be yellow, pink, white, red, or even purple (or a combination of these tones).
BUT BE CAREFUL: This is not like other succulents. You’ll need to grow it in light shade and with daily watering.
4. Climbing Aloe (Aloiampelos ciliaris)
Talking about succulents without adding an aloe species would be a crime.
The climbing aloe would be the BEST of its kind.
As its name says, it climbs (sometimes spirals down). But the real feature comes from its gigantic flower.
A red-to-pink flower comes out from its center, reaching up to 3 feet high.
When in baskets, this makes for a highly eye-catching view.
Like most aloes, it thrives almost anywhere as long as it receives consistent sunlight.
WORTH KNOWING: This plant can grow incredibly high, sometimes reaching up to 10 feet if you let it.
5. Dancing Bones (Hatiora salicornioides)
The name comes from the slightly bony appearance, almost cartoonish.
This look comes from the elongated stems with a dark-green color. These stems can reach over 20 inches long, frequently reaching down far, hanging gorgeously.
When the flowers bloom in winter, the yellow petals make it stand out anywhere it is located.
It loves the sun, but be careful with scorching midday sun if possible (keep them under a roof at that time).
CONSIDER THIS: You can grow it indoors without problems, as long as it receives at least 5 hours of light.
6. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)
You can plant the Elephant Bush ANYWHERE, and it will thrive.
It is consistently used as a ground cover, given how fast it spreads and how beautiful it looks. The plant also looks great as a simple succulent in pots.
But if there’s a place where it looks best, that would be hanging in a basket.
The plant loves to go downward and outward with its long-reaching branches. And its succulent leaves with light-green tones make it a gorgeous addition to any patio.
You’ll find it super-easy to grow as well, given how much it loves warm environments and consistent sun exposure.
INTERESTING FACT: You can grow it as a bonsai if you want. The plant will stay small and healthy, probably reaching several decades of lifespan.
7. Fishbone Cactus (Selenicereus anthonyanus)
Many people call it the Zig-Zag cactus, given the uniquely shaped leaves.
These leaves look more like stems, cascading down in baskets and making for a fun spectacle on any home.
This is an easy plant to grow like most succulents, but it prefers light shade.
ITS WOW FACTOR: It produces nocturnal flowers that will BLOW YOUR MIND. These super-attractive purple-and-white flowers are nothing to ignore.
8. Hindu Rope (Hoya compacta)
When it comes to unique succulents, nothing beats the Hindu rope.
The plant has waxy, curled leaves, growing like a vine (trailing upward and downward).
In the right environment, the plants grow beautiful star-shaped blossoms. This adds up to its already attractive appearance.
You will need to keep it under light shade if you want it to thrive. But it still withstands light drought and harsh sunlight.
DON’T IGNORE THIS: It is not a climbing plant but will likely hold to the basket’s support and grow around, almost like a vine.
9. Kenya Hyacinth (Sansevieria Parva)
Among the rarest succulents, part of the snake plant family, the Kenya Hyacinth can also be your favorite hanging basket plant.
In contrast with other snake plants, it features fleshy leaves that sometimes curl inwards. The colors are a mix of light green, cream, and diffused dark green.
Its leaves won’t drop down like other hanging succulents, but it will reach the sides to make it an exciting choice.
ALSO IMPORTANT: It tends to produce small spiky flowers. These tend to stand out thanks to the creamy pink colors.
10. Lantern Flower (Ceropegia haygarthii)
It grows like a vine with its long-reaching tubular stems. Even then, it still produces small leaves that are hard to ignore.
The best thing?
It grows eye-catching flowers that look like a small lantern (thus, the name).
This flower also boasts stunning colors, mixing brown-to-burgundy pecks with light green and a red ball, standing up from the top.
It is an easy-to-grow and sturdy houseplant, but it thrives outdoors.
WHAT TO KNOW: Because it is similar to vines in terms of growth pattern, you can let it climb up or trail down from the basket (AND IT WILL LOOK AMAZING).
11. Mezoo Trailing Red (Dorotheanthus-bellidiformis)
The plant looks like most other succulents: waxy, light-green leaves with a sometimes-variegated color.
But there’s an excellent thing to know: it grows flowers throughout the year.
The name trailing red comes from these reddish flowers that are hard to overlook.
You can grow it pretty much anywhere, and it will thrive. This one, however, prefers slightly cold climates.
AWESOME FACT: The stems drop down beautifully from the basket, making for an eye-catching sight when the blossoms appear.
12. Monkey’s Tail (Hildewintera colademononis)
When it comes to FUN succulents, nothing beats the Monkey’s Tail.
Its spiny leaves that love trailing down the basket will never go unnoticed.
These leaves can reach up to 8 feet in length, featuring spines all across the body.
The plant grows better in slightly cold environments, but it thrives almost anywhere, with shade or consistent sun exposure.
THAT’S NOT ALL: Flowers grow from ANY PART of the dropping leaves, making it an even harder-to-dismiss hanging plant.
13. October Stonecrop (Sedum sieboldii)
When we say this is the most beautiful succulent, we’re being serious.
And it’s the most beautiful BY FAR.
Its trailing leaves drop down and reach far to the sides, matching with hanging baskets perfectly.
But these leaves stand out for their colors. Going from blue-green to purple-red, and even pink-creamy tones, THERE’S NO MATCH IN BEAUTY.
If you want to make your hanging baskets stand out, this would be a perfect alternative.
HERE’S A SECRET: It also produces small flowers that grow in a small bunch. With their pink and sometimes red colors, the plant is undoubtedly the most attractive you can find.
14. Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus)
Not many people will consider the Peanut Cactus a trailing succulent. But we do.
It is interesting because the stems look like any other cactus. However, these prickly stems grow to the sides and down, sometimes reaching over 20 inches in length.
These stems grow super-quickly for a succulent and can cover entire hanging pots in a few years.
You’ll need to keep it under consistent sunlight for the plant to thrive. It requires little watering.
THE BEST ABOUT IT: The bright red flowers appear from time to time, making the plant almost impossible to not like.
15. Rat Tail Cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis)
Following the hanging cactuses, we now find the Rat Tail.
Like its name says, the stems look like an animals’ bottom, dropping down with a prickly surface.
These stems can reach over 3 feet in length, reaching far down to match any hanging basket almost perfectly.
But if there’s something gorgeous about it, that would be the bright purple flowers growing from the stems. These add up to any place’s beauty.
AND WHAT’S EVEN BETTER: The spines on the stems are super-soft, so they won’t cause damage to anyone.
16. Ruby Necklace (Othonna Capensis)
Imagine a fruit-shaped leaf, thick and juicy. Now imagine that same leaf in purple. And finally, try to visualize the leaves dropping down like a vine.
Whatever you have in mind, that’s probably close to the Ruby Necklace.
Its name comes from the attractive purple tone of the leaves. When the sun hits directly, the plant looks excitingly shiny.
It also drops down perfectly for hanging baskets, especially considering how easy it is to grow.
CHECK THIS: It blooms all across the year, producing bright-yellow daisy-like flowers that make it even more lovely.
17. String of Bananas (Senecio radicans)
The name will tell you EXACTLY how the plant looks.
Viny stems hanging down the pot, with cylindrical yet curve-shaped leaves. The light green color and fleshy appearance are impossible to ignore.
This is one of the easiest to grow and propagate. It requires as little watering and care as you may guess.
ALSO WORTH IT: It produces yellow or pink flowers a few times a year. When this happens, you won’t believe how gorgeous it looks.
18. String of Beads (Senecio herreianus)
Imagine the String of Bananas plants but with WAY THICKER leaves.
That’s precisely what you get with the string of beads.
Just like other string plants, this one can reach far down with its thick and pointy leaves. A single stem can go over 9 feet down with no problem.
Interestingly, it also requires little effort to grow and will thrive almost anywhere.
EVEN MORE INTERESTING: The flowers are white-to-pink with spiky tops, hard to forget once it starts to bloom.
19. String of Buttons (Crassula perforate)
Thick, fleshy leaves, dropping down with an elevating stem, looking gorgeously regardless of where they grow.
They make for an excellent hanging-basket alternative, thanks to their uniquely shaped stems. In some cases, they may even achieve a purple-to-red color that sets them apart.
You can keep it growing in almost any place as long as the soil drains quickly.
VITAL TO KNOW: A single stem can reach over 30 inches easily. However, the leaves may drop due to their weight.
20. String of Hearts (Ceropegia linearis)
Among the dullest succulents you can bring to a hanging basket, the String of Hearts won’t keep you hooked for long.
The great advantage comes from how far it reaches. Because it grows like a vine, the plant can trail and climb anywhere with ease.
Its leaves are green, and its stems are very agile, so it dangles, crawls, and goes anywhere.
While bland, it is undoubtedly one of the BEST SUCCULENTS FOR HANGING you’ll find.
EXCITING FACT: The flowers appear rarely, but when they do, they’re certainly a sight to behold (beautifully shaped and colored).
21. String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)
As you can guess by the name, it has rounded leaves, thick and green.
Like other string succulents, it drops down, reaching several feet down in most cases.
The plant also likes to trail and climb in some cases. Regardless, it will thrive in many different areas as long as you can ensure sufficient sunlight.
Be aware that this plant requires warm areas to thrive. And for that reason, you can also expect it to be drought-resistant (it’ll need little watering).
WATCH OUT: Its flowers are tiny and barely noticeable but still add small white spots when they sprout.
22. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
If you didn’t already know this was a succulent, you would think it’s a peas plant. And that wouldn’t be a crazy thought.
The circular foliage in the dangling stems make it hard to overlook.
It will catch anyone’s attention almost right away. And when the spiky white flowers appear, it attracts even more eyes (making any place attractive).
BE AWARE: This is a toxic succulent despite looking so fragile. Be careful with the plants around pets and babies.
23. Trailing Jade (Senecio jacobsenii)
The name says it all: a Trailing Jade for hanging baskets.
Its crawling habits make it almost perfect for tall areas, as it will automatically look for a way to dangle down.
The beauty comes from the oval-shaped leaves, fleshy like most succulents but light-green in color.
It is one of the easiest plants to grow, requiring little to no watering to survive. As long as the sunlight is there, the plant will thrive.
INTERESTING PART: In cold areas when the winter reaches low temperatures, the leaves tend to turn purple (ideal for any balcony).
24. Variegated Trailing Jade (Crassula sarmentosa)
You can grow this plant however you prefer. In a hanging basket, with dropping leaves reaching down beautifully, or you can grow it upright for a gorgeous pot-like appearance.
Either way, it stands out for its beautiful appearance. The purple-with-green leaves are impossible to ignore.
And when the light hits it, you can see a unique yellow border in the leaves that shines.
GREAT FACT: Its flowers tend to add a bushy appearance to the plant, as they are small but grow in bunches.
25. Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)
The closest succulent to an evergreen plan would the Wax or Porcelain Plant.
Belonging to the Hoya genus, a set of oval-shaped and waxy leaf plants, it looks seemingly simple at first sight. But it’s actually one of the most attractive given how it drops down.
The leaves can reach over 5 feet long in some cases. And given the tangling vine-like stems, it is a sight to behold.
DON’T FORGET: Its bunchy flowers with pink-to-white colors tend to make it a gorgeous display, perfect to enjoy in summers and springs.
Leave your Succulents Hanging NOW!
Your backyard is waiting for those hanging succulents to start shining in beauty.
With so many STUNNING options, there shouldn’t be a problem picking one.
Considering how easy most of these succulents are to grow and plant, you shouldn’t have any problem (even from the start).
So, what are you waiting for? They won’t hang themselves!