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If you dream of a lush porch or patio, this list of the best hanging plants for your shaded porch is the perfect place to start designing your dream space.
This list includes a mix of resilient plants that thrive in the shade, from bright flowers to classic ferns.
No worries if you don’t have a green thumb, these hanging plants are not too fussy and we will share all the most important tips for keeping them happy.
Let’s dive into our top recommendations for creating a cozy and inviting porch or patio that is also cool and shady.
This post is all about the best hanging plants for your shaded porch.
The Best Hanging Basket Plants For Your Shaded Porch
1. Boston Ferns
Let’s get started with the classic Boston fern. These fun and spunky plants are a classic hanging plant for many homes and a staple for a shaded front porch.
Boston ferns are happy in partial sun with moist soil. They don’t flower but the bright shade of their leaves will keep things cheery.
Be sure to touch the soil every few days to see if it is moist (especially during the warm summers) as ferns enjoy moist soil.
The wide leaves take up lots of space so if you want to create a lush look on your porch these will be perfect for your space.
Luckily, you can find ferns at basically all garden centers.
2. Spider Plant
Spider plants have fun and springy leaves that bring a bit of spunk to your porch foliage.
With a mix of whitish and green leaves, they tie in well with neutral-colored decor themes as well.
This trusty perennial will be a consistent decor element on your porch for years to come.
Spider plants love partial shade but despise full sun as it can scorch their leaves. Be sure to keep the soil moist but don’t overwater as this can potentially rot the roots.
If you want that cascading plant look, the spider plant will be perfect as their leaves fall and they even get small white flowers. This flowering plant will be the perfect addition to your space.
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3. English Ivy
Another great cascading plant that loves shady areas is the English ivy. Its deep green hue pairs perfectly with front porches with deep color palettes as decor.
Do be super careful with kids and pets as these plants are toxic.
English ivy is perfectly happy with shade and even full shade. Take note that these plants tend to spread and many times are used as ground cover so keep them nestled and hanging in pots if you don’t want it all over your yard.
English Ivy is also wonderful because if you forget to water them a bit they will be ok. They are happy with well-drained dryish soil.
4. Begonias
With nice and bright flowers Begonias will spruce up a dull porch or patio. They come in many colors including white, orange, pink, and white. They bring the perfect pop of color to your porch or patio.
Begonias are great if you aren’t super into gardening but want a flowery front porch look. They are happy in partial shade and are fine with dryish soil.
5. Fuchsia
If you want a unique, hanging plant, Fuchsia will be the perfect addition to your porch with its colorful flowers.
With bright pink and purple flowers and spunky petals, the fuchsia’s vibrant colors will bring some life to a boring space.
Fuchsia are ok with some sun but are happiest with shade. These shade-loving plants cannot tolerate harsh sun. Be sure to keep their soil moist but not soggy.
6. Jade Pothos
Pothos are such a trusty houseplant for many as they are resilient and can be easily propagated if you want the plants on your front porch to match those on your back porch!
Jade pothos don’t love full shade or full sun. Be mindful of not overwatering and check the soil before showering them. These pothos can be sensitive to overwatering.
Their leaves will hang perfectly in a beautiful hanging basket as they have vine-like features.
7. Asparagus Fern
Stop by your local garden center and check out the asparagus fern. These feather-like ferns are perfectly happy with a shady spot and spring and spill over their hanging pots. These are a lighter-looking version of the Boston ferns explained earlier.
This is an ideal choice if you want a simple yet full plant for your space.
8. Bonus! Golden Showers Rose
Think summery yellow blossoms and a warm honey scent and you’ve got the golden showers rose. These plants are absolutely beautiful and create a fun pop of color.
They love to climb and spread so having them on a wall on your porch is ideal rather than hanging pots. They had to be on the list though!
This rose can tolerate full sun to partial shade so maybe choose a more sunny corner of your space.
Another pro of these roses is that they don’t have thorns!
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A quick list of honorable mentions to pop in your outdoor hanging baskets
- Sword fern
- Dragon wing begonias
- Sweet potato vine
- Bleeding heart
- Creeping jenny
- Brunnera
- Coral bells
What are apartment-friendly shaded porch outdoor house plant options?
What if you can’t drill into your porch? What are some renter-friendly options to bring more greenery to your porch or patio?
This is where the beautiful Golden Showers Rose we chatted about earlier comes in. Get creative with wooden palettes and have this rose sprawl across a pallet to cover a large space with bright flowers and greenery. Vertical gardening is getting super popular and you can simply rest it against your porch wall rather than drilling it in.
If you cannot hang baskets on your porch you can still use the plants listed above and sit them on a table with their leaves and flowers cascading down. You will still achieve that full look without compromising your rental agreement.
If you have a larger porch or patio, adding in a raised bed for herbs or other plants you can eat is a great way to combine growing your own food with a lush look for decor.
Other porch decoration ideas:
- Add string lights or other hanging lights
- Choose comfortable seating and add pillows and throw blankets. Have various types of seating: rocking chairs, benches with storage, couches, etc.
- An outdoor rug to tie it all together
- Add potted plants at different levels (on the floor, on stands, bushes etc.)
- Battery-powered or sun-powered candles and lights
What you will need for your hanging plant baskets:
- Desired plant
- Plant basket large enough to fit your plant
- Hook
- Drill
- Moss lining or coconut lining
- Pot mix that drains well
- Your basket will most likely come with chains to support the weight of the basket. Be mindful of baskets that come with jute, raffia, or macrame yarn. It is beautiful but after a while, it can wear down and potentially drop your basket.
How to hang a plant basket on the ceiling on the front porch?
- Choose your ideal basket. Be mindful of the size of the pot. Line the basket with moss or premade coconut fiber basket lining.
- Add your potting soil about halfway into your basket. Make sure it is soil that drains well. Add a bit of water.
- Dig a small hole in the middle of your basket and place the roots of the plant here. Surround the base of the plant with the extra soil and gently pat it down.
- If you would like to add additional plants around the main plant, dig smaller holes near the brim of the basket and add more plants. Make sure they are evenly spaced around the main plant so the basket doesn’t tip from the weight.
- Mark where you want to hang your baskets. Use a measuring tape to ensure they are an equal distance around your porch.
- Use a drill and drill a hole into the marked area.
- Screw your hook into the hole. When choosing your hook, be sure it is strong enough to support the weight of your plant and soil (even when the soil is wet). Keep turning the screw until it feels snug in the hole if you tug it a bit.
- Hang your plant by the rings on the chain of your basket on the hook.
- Enjoy your new space!
The best baskets for hanging a plant on a shady porch
I wanted to round up a few plant basket ideas that you can use as inspiration when designing your dream porch or patio.
Try to use baskets you already have, can buy secondhand, buy locally or from garage sales. You are more likely to find a unique plant basket and it is better for the environment.
If you can’t find one you adore here are some great options!
- A classic wire plant hanging basket
- Recycled plastic hanging baskets (different colors)
- Glass hanging basket
What plants will you be hanging on your porch or patio to spruce it up? Will you use an idea on this list or another creative idea? If you have any other ideas let us know in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best hanging plants for your shaded porch.
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Elizabeth Cardaropoli
March 14, 2024 at 7:28 pmI love these plants! Such a variety
Sustain Life Journal
March 15, 2024 at 11:46 amThank you!