You do not need to have expansive space for hanging succulents. Even with little space to spare you can keep one or more trailing succulents hanging in baskets to spruce up your living space.
Here are 17 hanging succulents that you can consider.
1. Burro’s Tail
Scientific name: Sedum morganianum
Origin: Mexico and Honduras
Common names: Horse tail, Donkey tail
The Burro’s tail, also known as horse or donkey tail, is an absolute stunner that is difficult to miss, not with its unmistakable trailing stems which look like the tail of a burro or donkey.
This succulent can be kept indoors and outdoors. Plus, it is fairly easy to keep, requiring minimal care.
The plant requires plenty of sunlight. Indoors, it should be placed in an area that gets adequate indirect light.
But be forewarned: its leaves are sensitive to touch. Even the slightest touch translates to dropped leaves. As much as possible, avoid handling this plant unless necessary.
2. Climbing Aloe
Scientific name: Aloiampelos ciliaris
Origin: South Africa
The Aloiampelos ciliaris, more commonly known as the climbing aloe, got its nickname from its ability to grow up to five meters or 16 feet.
This fast growing plant is often used with fences and boundaries, able to surround and climb over these and other plants.
Because it is a member of the aloe family, it requires minimal care. However, due to its fast growth, you may need to prune it from time to time to prevent covering the other plants in your garden.
The plant is best kept outdoors where it can produce orange to red flowers, typically around fall. It is known to attract hummingbirds.
3. October Daphne
Scientific name: Hylotelephium sieboldii
Origin: Japan
Common names: Stonecrop, October plant, Showy stonecrop, Siebold’s stonecrop
Originating from Japan, the October Daphne is a hardy succulent that is capable of surviving sub-zero temperatures.
The succulent produces clusters of pink star-shaped flowers which usually appear around fall.
This plant is an excellent addition to rock gardens,preferring light shade, especially during summer.
The plant can also be kept indoors. However, you should place it in an area with adequate sunlight. The drawback is that you cannot see as many flowers when it is grown inside a home.
The plant is named after the renowned botanist and plant collector Philipp Frranz von Siebold.
4. Trailing Jade
Scientific name: Senecio jacobsenii
Origin: Tanzania and Kenya
Common names: Trailing Jade, Weeping Jade
Despite sharing a name with the jade or money plant, the trailing jade belongs to a different genus. It is often mistaken as the jade plant because of the similarities in the appearance between the two.
The trailing jade also has spoon-shaped leaves like the jade plant. However, its leaves are larger and overlap one another. Plus, the leaves take a purplish tinge upon the arrival of winter.
This succulent looks luxurious as its branches trail down from its container. When well-taken care of, the plant’s branches can grow as long as four feet.
5. String of Pearls
Scientific name: Senecio rowleyanus
Origin: southwest Africa
Common names: Rosary, String of beads
With its bead-like leaves, it is easy to understand why the string of pearls is one of the more popular succulents among collectors.
It is best kept in a basket as a hanging plant where its vines overflow. In its native habitat, these tendrils trail on the ground and overlap each other to form mats.
The succulent produces white flowers during spring. Many people say that these flowers smell like cinnamon.
It can be kept indoors or outdoors, preferring bright light.
Although the beads are beautiful, you need to throw these away once they fall off from the plant. These beads are toxic to pets and children.
6. Hindu Rope
Scientific name: Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’
Origin: East Asia and Australia
Common names: Hindu Indian Rope Plant, Wax Plant, Angel Plant, Krinkle Kurl
The Hindu Rope is a member of the Hoya family. Its name is derived from the appearance of its leaves which resemble a Hindu rope.
The leaves are cupped and curly and may either be green or variegated.
It produces clusters of star-shaped flowers between spring and summer. But unlike some flowering succulents, the Hindu rope takes years to produce flowers.
Hindu rope can be placed indoors or outdoors, preferring indirect sunlight.
Kept in a basket, its stems can grow as much as six feet in length.
7. Ruby Necklace
Scientific name: Othonna capensis
Origin: South Africa
Common names: String of rubies, Little pickles
Originating from South Africa, the Ruby Necklace is a close relative of the String of Pearls.
Like its cousin, it also has bead-like foliage which grows from fast-growing stems. These beads come in different colors, ranging from green to dark purple. The stems also have a purple color while the flowers offer a nice contrast of yellow.
This summer-dormant plant prefers locations with partial shade to full sun with plenty of air circulation.
During winter, it is best to keep the plant indoors as it cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
8. Wax Ivy
Scientific name: Senecio macroglossus
Origin: southern Africa
Common names: Natal ivy, Cape ivy, Wax vine, Flowering ivy
If you are looking for a hardy and no-fuss succulent to add to your garden, the Wax Ivy should be on top of your shortlist.
The Wax Ivy is a close relative of the String of Pearls and originates from South Africa. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing on forest floors.
Its leaves and stems have a pink to purple tinge while produces pale yellow flowers that look like daisy flowers.
This succulent is best grown outdoors where there is ample sunlight.
9. String of Hearts
Scientific name: Ceropegia
Origin: Australia, Africa, southern Asia
Common names: Rosary vine, Sweetheart vine, Chain of hearts
The popularity of the String of Hearts has grown steadily in recent years. And it is easy to see why many people have fallen in love with it.
For starters, its heart-shaped leaves make the succulent an instant crowd pleaser.
The succulent is versatile. It prefers bright but indirect sunlight which means that it can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
It can be grown either as a trailing plant although some growers prefer to wrap it around to produce a compact plant.
When you take care of this plant properly, it can grow quite fast. Plus, it is easy to propagate.
10. Ghost Plant
Scientific name: Graptopetalum paraguayense
Origin: Mexico
Common names: Sedum weinbergii, Mother-of-pearl plant
New to collecting succulents? The Ghost Plant ticks off all the right boxes. Easy to care for? Check. Pleasing to the eye? Check. Thrives even in the most adverse conditions? Check. Easy to propagate? Check.
A native of Mexico, the Ghost Plant is a close relative to the echeveria.
The succulent got its moniker from its triangular opalescent leaves which overlap one another to form a spiral.The leaves change their color, ranging from blue-gray to pink to yellow, depending upon the level of sun exposure, moisture, and quality of soil.
The Ghost Plant produces yellow, star-shaped flowers during spring.
11. Lantern Flower
Scientific name: Ceropegia haygarthii
Origin: South Africa, Mozambique, Angola
Common names: Parachute flower, Snake creeper, Parasol flower, Necklace vine, Rosary vine
The word interesting is barely enough to describe the Lantern Flower.
Originating from Africa, the Lantern Flower is an unusual-looking succulent, that, contrary to its looks, is relatively easy to keep and care for.
Its fleshy stems can either climb or trail. Its flowers are among the most unique-looking ones that you will see, having a funnel-shape that curves upwards from the base.
Inside the flowers are hairs that trap flies. Once trapped inside, the flies become covered with pollen. Once all the flower’s pollen is attached to a fly, the hairs wither, allowing the insect to fly away.
12. Creeping Inchplant
Scientific name: Callisia repens
Origin: Central and South America
Common names: Turtle vine, Bolivian Jew, Basket plant, Jelly bean plant, Little jewel
The Creeping inchplant is a low-growing succulent that can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
The top leaves of the plant have a deep green color while the lower leaves have a purple color. The succulent produces small white flowers during spring and summer.
Due to its resilience and ability to thrive in almost any condition, the Creeping inchplant is a good starter plant for new succulent collectors.
Although it prefers partial shade, it can tolerate direct sunlight. Unlike other succulents, this plant likes its soil to be constantly moist.
13. String of Nickels
Scientific name: Dischidia nummularia
Origin: India, Australia, Asia
Common names: Button orchid
The name String of Nickels is derived from the shape of this succulent’s leaves.
Also known as button orchid, the plant can easily spread up to 10 feet. The String of Nickels can be trained to climb, or if you are planning to keep it indoors, to trail.
Apart from being easy to grow, the plant can thrive in an indoor environment. Although it can tolerate short periods under direct sunlight, it prefers filtered light. It can even grow under artificial light.
This succulent also loves high humidity, making them perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
14. Kitten Ears
Scientific name: Cyanotis somaliensis
Origin: Northern Somalia
Common names: Furry kittens, Pussy ears
A close relative of the inch plant, the Kitten Ears plant instantly adds texture to any succulent collection. The plant derives its name from its green and fuzzy leaves.
This low growing plant prefers bright lights but can be kept indoors with medium light.
It is often kept as a trailing plant but some collectors keep them in pots or even terrariums due to their small size.
It produces fluffy, purple flowers that last for only a day.
15. Calico Kitten
Scientific name: Crassula pellucida
Origin: South Africa
Common names: Crassula pellucida
The Calico Kitten is another gorgeous looking succulent which has heart-shaped leaves.
The leaves can come in different color combinations, ranging from green to cream and pink. When subjected to dry conditions, these leaves can take a deep purple hue.
The plant grows slowly and can be tricky to care for, especially at the start. But with perseverance, you will be rewarded with a stunning trailing plant.
The Calico Kitten can be grown indoors and outdoors, preferring bright locations. Outdoors, the plant thrives in a bright, partial light.
16. Rat Tail Cactus
Scientific name: Aporocactus flagelliformis
Origin: Mexico
Over the last few years, the Rat Tail Cactus has emerged as one of the more popular cacti grown in homes. It has become so popular that there are more specimens in homes compared to its native home in Mexico. In fact, the cactus is classified as a threatened species in the country.
In the wild, the Rat Tail Cactus grows on rocky crevasses and on trees.
This succulent got its popular name from the appearance of its long trailing stems which have yellow hairy spines. The stems can grow as long as six feet.
Initially, the plant looks green. But as the plant matures, it takes on a beige color.
The cactus produces pink, red, and occasionally, orange flowers between spring and summer.
17. Rex Begonia Vine
Scientific name: Cissus discolor
Origin: Java, Australia
Common names:
Despite its name, the Rex Begonia Vine is not a true begonia. In reality, it is a member of the grape family.
Although many gardeners use the plant in trellises and arbors, it can be hung on baskets as a trailing plant.
Its heart-shaped leaves are green on the top while the undersides are bright red. The plant looks absolutely stunning when trained to display both the top and underside.
Initially, the leaves appear to be red or purple. Upon reaching maturity the leaves turn green.
The plant prefers warm locations with ample sunlight.
Be forewarned: the Rex Begonia is not for beginners. It grows slow and can be difficult to care for.
Caring for your hanging succulents
Compared to other trailing plants, succulents are relatively easy to care for. Most of these plants will thrive with minimal attention.
However, it does not hurt to learn a few basic succulent care ideas.
Proper watering
If you can only get one thing right, that would be learning how to properly water your succulents. Proper watering is one of the challenges that new succulent owners need to hurdle first.
Watering succulents runs counter to the conventional idea that plants need to be watered regularly. If you are keeping succulents, it is vital to know that these plants need to be watered deeply but infrequently, like lawn grass.
Many types of succulents can thrive on benign neglect, going on days or even weeks without water. These plants are more than capable of handling long, dry spells with great ease.
Water your succulents only when the soil in their containers is dry. If you use the appropriate containers and soil mix for these plants, that is basically all you need to know.
Soil mix
Well-draining soil is essential for succulents, whether you keep them in hanging baskets or pots.
You can buy soil mixes made specially for succulents or mix your own. The important thing to remember is that you cannot use organic soil or dirt from the ground. These types of soil are not suitable for succulents because these become compact when wet and inhibit the optimal flow of air to the roots.
If you are keeping hanging succulents, you can supplement your potting mix with natural liners like sphagnum moss and coco fiber. These liners help drain water away from the soil after you water your plant or after rainfall.
Containers
In general, succulents grow better in shallow plants. For hanging baskets, opt for those that are eight inches in diameter and about six inches deep.
In most instances, your succulents will thrive in containers with these dimensions. If your plants grow over the summer, you can transfer them from their hanging baskets to pots to be kept indoors.
Additionally, many types of succulents do not mind growing in crowded spaces, at least for the short term.
Learn your plants’ individual requirements
Many succulents share a few similarities in terms of their requirements for optimal growth.
But whether you are hanging your succulents in baskets or keeping them indoors in containers, it is essential to study each of your plant’s unique needs.