Hanging plants exploit vertical space that floor and shelf plants leave entirely unused. A single pothos trailing from a high shelf or ceiling hook transforms a room in a way that no other plant type can replicate. Where a shelf plant occupies a single horizontal plane, a hanging plant creates a flowing, living curtain of green that draws the eye upward and fills the room with depth and movement. For anyone serious about indoor plants, understanding how to choose, hang, and care for trailing plants opens up a completely new dimension of plant display.
This guide covers the 12 best indoor hanging plants — chosen for their trailing habit, visual impact, relative ease of care, and suitability to typical indoor light conditions. Whether you have a bright south-facing room or a dimmer north-facing apartment, there are strong candidates in this list for your space. We also cover the practical aspects that plant guides often ignore: how to hang plants safely, how high to position them, and how to water without making a mess. For the full collection of top houseplant choices, see our best houseplants guide.
Why Hanging Plants Work So Well Indoors
The practical case for hanging plants is straightforward: vertical space is almost always underused indoors. Most rooms have 2.4–3m ceilings, but furniture and decor rarely extends above 1.8m. That upper zone — the third of the room's vertical height above head level — is entirely available for hanging plants. A ceiling hook costs almost nothing, and a single trailing pothos in that hook can trail for a metre or more, filling that otherwise empty visual space.
There are other compelling reasons to hang plants rather than shelve them. Many trailing plants — pothos, philodendron, tradescantia, string of hearts — have a natural growth habit that expresses itself best when the stems are free to cascade downward. In a pot on a shelf, they trail awkwardly. In a hanging basket, they do exactly what they evolved to do. The plant looks more natural, grows more vigorously, and is far more visually dramatic in a hanging position.
Hanging plants also solve a common problem in homes with pets or young children: positioning plants out of reach. Many popular houseplants (philodendron, pothos, English ivy) are toxic if ingested. A hanging basket well above reach eliminates the risk without eliminating the plant. Additionally, hanging position improves air circulation around plants — reducing the stagnant, humid conditions around the pot that can promote fungus gnats and other soil-based pests. For many trailing plants, this means slightly better long-term plant health compared to floor or shelf positions.
The 12 Best Indoor Hanging Plants
1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos is the undisputed king of hanging plants — and for good reason. Its natural growth habit is to trail and cascade, sending stems up to several metres long in indoor conditions. The heart-shaped leaves, held on flexible stems, hang gracefully whether the plant is in a ceiling basket or on a high shelf. Given its extraordinary tolerance for variable light conditions (it handles low-ish light that would kill most trailing plants), irregular watering, and general neglect, pothos is the first recommendation for anyone starting with hanging plants. For a deep dive into pothos care, see our complete pothos care guide.
The variety selection makes pothos even more compelling. Golden pothos has classic yellow-green variegation. Neon pothos glows lime-green under artificial light. Marble queen is creamy white and green. Satin pothos (technically Scindapsus pictus, but often sold as pothos) has silver-splashed leaves with a slightly more textured, matte surface. Any of these looks spectacular in a hanging basket, and multiple varieties in the same basket create an interesting mixed display. In summer in good light, pothos can produce 15–30cm of new growth per week — making it one of the most satisfying plants to watch in a hanging position.
Hanging care note: pothos benefits from having its trailing stems pinched or trimmed occasionally to prevent the characteristic "bare-stem-with-leaves-only-at-the-tips" look. Snip back long stems and propagate the cuttings directly into the same pot to create a fuller, denser basket.
2. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
The heartleaf philodendron is nearly identical to pothos in its hanging habit and care requirements — which makes it an excellent companion or alternative. Where pothos leaves have a slightly waxy, glossy surface, philodendron leaves are softer, velvety, and a deeper shade of green. The heart shape is more pronounced, and the stems are slightly more flexible, creating an even more flowing cascade in a hanging basket. For anyone who loves pothos but wants something slightly different in texture and tone, the heartleaf philodendron is the obvious next choice. See our philodendron care guide for full details.
Care for heartleaf philodendron in a hanging basket is almost identical to pothos: bright to medium indirect light, water when the top 3–4cm of soil is dry, and occasional feeding with a balanced liquid fertilizer in spring and summer. It handles lower light than many plants but grows most vigorously with good light — a position within 1–2 metres of a bright window gives you the best trailing growth. Like pothos, pinch back long trailing stems to encourage branching and a fuller basket.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plant is one of the most photogenic hanging plants available — not just for its own arching, grass-like leaves, but for the extraordinary display it creates when it produces its long runners tipped with baby plantlets. A mature spider plant in a hanging basket will send out 30–60cm runners in all directions, each ending in a perfect miniature spider plant. The overall effect — a central plant surrounded by a constellation of dangling babies — is unlike any other hanging display. See our complete spider plant care guide for all the details.
Spider plant is also one of the safest hanging plants for homes with cats and dogs — it is non-toxic, making it one of very few attractive trailing plants that doesn't require keeping out of pet reach. It handles variable light well, tolerating everything from quite bright indirect light to somewhat dim conditions. Water when the top half of the soil is dry, and allow it to become slightly pot-bound before repotting — a slightly crowded root system encourages the production of the runners and babies that make it such a spectacular hanging display.
4. String of Pearls (Senecio/Curio rowleyanus)
String of pearls is arguably the most photogenic hanging plant in existence. The trails of perfect, pea-sized spheres — each a succulent water-storing leaf that has evolved into a globe shape to minimize surface area and water loss — look almost artificial. A healthy, thriving string of pearls in a hanging basket, with trails cascading 60–90cm in all directions, is one of the most remarkable plant displays possible indoors. It's the plant that consistently stops visitors in their tracks.
The honest caveat: string of pearls is notoriously challenging to keep thriving over the long term. It needs bright light (ideally a few hours of gentle direct sun), very fast-draining succulent potting mix, and careful watering that avoids both drought and any soggy conditions. In a hanging basket, it dries out particularly fast — the substrate, combined with air exposure on all sides, means the soil can desiccate in just a few days in summer. Check moisture every 3–4 days and water when the top centimeter is dry. Despite the challenge, the visual reward when it's thriving makes the effort entirely worthwhile.
5. Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
Tradescantia — commonly sold as spiderwort, wandering Jew, or wandering dude — may actually grow faster than pothos in ideal conditions, making it one of the most rewarding quick-gratification hanging plants. The trailing stems extend visibly from week to week in summer, rapidly filling a basket or cascading from a shelf. Leaf colors range from purple (T. pallida), to silver-striped on green (T. zebrina), to cream and pink variegation (T. fluminensis 'Tricolor'). The variety of colors makes tradescantia extremely versatile for matching different room aesthetics.
The one ongoing maintenance task with tradescantia is pinching. Left unpinched, the plant produces long bare stems with all leaves at the tips — a look that can appear scraggly rather than lush. Regularly pinching the stem tips removes the growing tip and forces the plant to branch, creating a far denser, fuller basket. Use the pinched stems as cuttings — they root effortlessly in water or directly in moist potting mix, and can be popped back into the same basket to increase density further.
6. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston fern is one of the classic hanging basket plants, and its reputation is entirely deserved. The long, arching fronds — each made up of dozens of small pinnate leaflets — create a lush, romantic display that no other hanging plant quite matches. A large Boston fern in a hanging basket by a bright window creates an almost Victorian-era indoor garden atmosphere. For texture, volume, and sheer lushness, nothing else competes.
The trade-off is that Boston fern has real care requirements. It needs consistent moisture (the fronds brown and drop in drought conditions rapidly), high humidity (below 40% humidity causes tip browning over time), and bright indirect light. The ideal position for a hanging Boston fern is a bathroom with a bright window — the steam from showers provides exactly the humidity boost it needs, and the bright indirect light through frosted glass is perfect. In drier rooms, a humidifier nearby or regular misting of the fronds helps considerably. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; this is one plant where allowing the soil to dry out between waterings is not ideal.
7. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
String of hearts is one of the most elegant hanging plants available. From a small pot, it produces long, slender vines carrying pairs of small, heart-shaped leaves with silver markings on the upper surface and purple undersides. The vines can grow to 1 metre or more, creating delicate trailing chains that sway gently in any air movement. Unlike the bold, lush cascade of pothos or philodendron, string of hearts creates an airy, fine-textured display that works particularly well in modern minimalist or boho-styled rooms.
Being semi-succulent, string of hearts tolerates some drought — its small tubers store water and allow it to survive irregular watering better than ferns or pothos. It prefers bright indirect light (a couple of hours of gentle direct sun suits it well) and fast-draining potting mix. Water when the soil has dried out completely, then water thoroughly. In a hanging basket, check every 4–5 days in summer. The small tubers (corms) that occasionally appear along the vines can be used for propagation — remove them and press into moist potting mix to start new plants.
8. Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)
Hoya carnosa — the wax plant — rewards patience with one of the most spectacular floral displays of any hanging houseplant. The thick, waxy, dark green leaves trail beautifully from hanging baskets, building a dense curtain of foliage over years of growth. But the real payoff comes when the plant flowers: clusters (umbels) of perfectly formed, star-shaped flowers, waxy in texture and often fragrant, appear from the same spurs (peduncles) year after year. A flowering hoya is a genuinely breathtaking sight, and the fragrance — sweet, sometimes vanilla-like — fills a room.
Hoya is slow growing, which means patience is required — a new plant may take 1–3 years before flowering. But it is also very long-lived and very tolerant of neglect: it handles dry conditions, inconsistent watering, and periods of low light far better than most flowering plants. Place it in the brightest indirect light available, let the soil dry out almost completely between waterings (err on the dry side), and critically — never remove the spent flower spurs after blooming. New flower clusters emerge from the same spur the following season, and removing it eliminates next year's flowers.
9. Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Burro's tail is the most spectacular succulent for hanging baskets. The trailing stems — which can reach 60–90cm in a mature specimen — are densely clothed in small, plump, blue-green leaves that overlap like fish scales, creating a thick, rope-like appearance. The overall effect of a mature burro's tail hanging basket, with multiple stems trailing in all directions, is unlike any other plant — intensely textured, sculptural, and almost otherworldly in its appearance.
Care requirements are those of a succulent: bright light (a few hours of direct sun is ideal), very fast-draining cactus or succulent mix, and deep watering followed by complete drying before watering again. The main challenge with burro's tail in a hanging position is that the individual leaves are very fragile and drop at the slightest disturbance — handle the plant as little as possible once positioned. Find its spot, hang it, and leave it largely undisturbed. Dropped leaves can be propagated easily on the surface of dry potting mix.
10. Scindapsus (Satin Pothos)
Scindapsus pictus — sold as satin pothos despite not being a true pothos — is one of the most visually interesting trailing plants available. The matte, slightly textured leaves are dark green overlaid with irregular silver splashes that catch light in a way that makes the plant appear almost to shimmer. In a hanging basket, the silver-marked trails create a more sophisticated, subtle look than the bright variegation of golden pothos, and the plant suits darker, more moody room aesthetics particularly well.
Scindapsus is slightly more demanding than true pothos: it prefers moderate to bright indirect light and doesn't handle the dim conditions that pothos manages. However, it's more drought-tolerant than its looks suggest, handling periods of dry soil better than ferns or calathea. Water when the top 3–4cm of soil is dry, provide bright indirect light, and the plant will trail vigorously and maintain its distinctive silver patterning. In dim conditions, the silver variegation fades toward plain green — a useful indicator that the plant needs more light.
11. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy is a classic trailing and climbing plant that has been grown in hanging baskets for centuries. Its lobed, pointed leaves in various shades of green (or variegated with white, yellow, or grey) trail gracefully from baskets, and the plant is well-behaved in containers in a way that its outdoor reputation (invasive in many regions) completely belies. Indoors, it grows at a manageable pace and stays contained within its pot without any risk of spreading.
English ivy has specific preferences that distinguish it from most tropical hanging plants: it genuinely prefers cooler temperatures (12–18°C is ideal — it tolerates rooms that are too cold for most houseplants), and it prefers good light, doing well in bright indirect and even some direct sun from an east-facing window. It dislikes hot, dry air — keep it away from heating vents and consider misting regularly in winter when indoor heating creates very dry conditions. Good air circulation helps prevent spider mite infestations, which are its most common pest problem indoors.
12. Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis)
Rhipsalis is the wild card on this list — an epiphytic cactus that has almost nothing in common with its desert-dwelling relatives. Rather than spines and pads, Rhipsalis produces masses of slender, segmented, trailing stems in shades of green, grey, or purple. The overall texture is feathery and unusual, unlike any other hanging plant. A mature Rhipsalis in a hanging basket, with hundreds of trailing stems creating a soft, cascading mass, is one of the most distinctive plant displays possible indoors.
Unlike most cacti, Rhipsalis does not need intense direct sunlight — it evolved on the forest floor and in tree canopies of tropical rainforests, and handles the lower light conditions that most cacti cannot tolerate. It prefers bright indirect light, consistently moist (not wet) soil during the growing season, and slightly drier conditions in winter. Occasional small white or yellow flowers appear along the stems, followed by small translucent berries that give it its common name. It is one of the lowest-maintenance trailing plants available for medium-light indoor positions.
Choosing the Right Hanging Container
The choice of hanging container significantly affects both the visual impact of the display and the practical ease of care. Traditional coir-lined hanging baskets — wire frames with a coconut fiber liner — are beautiful and allow excellent air circulation and drainage, but they also lose moisture very rapidly through their sides. For moisture-loving plants like ferns and pothos, this means more frequent watering. For drought-tolerant plants like succulents and hoyas, it's less of a concern.
Macramé hangers paired with standard plastic or ceramic pots offer a different approach: the pot retains moisture normally, the macramé provides the hanging aesthetic, and the plant sits in a familiar growing environment. This combination works well for plants that need consistent moisture. A plastic pot inside a macramé hanger is practical — plastic retains moisture longer than terracotta or coir, reducing watering frequency for plants in hard-to-reach positions.
Ceiling hooks must be chosen for load-bearing, not decoration. A 20cm hanging basket with wet soil weighs 2–3kg — picture hooks will not support this safely. Use expanding toggle bolts drilled into drywall (these typically support 5–10kg) or screws driven directly into a ceiling joist (located with a stud finder). For very large or heavy baskets (Boston fern, large pothos), find and screw into a joist. Wall-mounted brackets are a safer alternative for very heavy plants — they allow using a shelf bracket to support the weight without depending on ceiling fixing strength.
How High to Hang (and Why It Matters for Care)
The ideal hanging height for indoor plants balances visual impact against practical care access. Very high hanging positions — near the ceiling at 2.5m+ — look dramatic, with long trailing stems visible from across the room, but they create real practical problems: watering and inspecting a plant at that height requires a ladder, making regular care much harder. Neglected plants in unreachable positions are far more likely to develop pest problems or die from missed watering.
The most practical hanging height is somewhere around eye level to just above head height — roughly 1.5–2m from the floor. At this height, you can inspect the plant easily for pests, check soil moisture, and water without a ladder (a long-spouted watering can helps). The trailing stems still create a beautiful cascade below the pot. For most homes and most plants, this is the sweet spot.
Light considerations also affect ideal height. Trailing plants that are light-hungry (string of pearls, burro's tail, English ivy) benefit from positioning near and at the height of a window, where they receive maximum light from the side. Light-tolerant plants (pothos, philodendron) can be hung further from windows or at higher ceiling positions without significant growth penalty. As a general rule: the further from a window, the lower the hang height should be (to stay within reasonable light range), and the brighter the light, the higher you can position the plant if you want the dramatic ceiling-height trailing effect.
Watering Hanging Plants Without the Mess
The most practical approach to watering hanging plants is to take them down and water them at a sink or bathtub. Remove the basket from its hook, carry it to the sink, water thoroughly until it drains freely from the drainage holes, then allow it to drain completely for 10–15 minutes before rehanging. This approach guarantees thorough watering (no dry spots), prevents water dripping on furniture, and gives you the opportunity to inspect the plant closely at the same time. A plant taken down monthly for this inspection is far less likely to develop pest infestations undetected.
For plants that are too large or heavy to conveniently take down, a long-spouted watering can allows watering in place. Place a drip tray or plastic liner inside the basket to catch drainage. Self-watering hanging baskets — which have a reservoir in the base that wicks water upward to the roots as needed — are an excellent solution for moisture-loving plants like ferns and pothos that need consistent moisture; they substantially reduce watering frequency and the risk of forgotten watering. For coir-lined baskets, a plastic liner inserted inside the coir (with drainage holes at the bottom only) dramatically reduces moisture loss through the sides, making watering far less frequent and the basket easier to manage overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hanging plants reward the small investment of a ceiling hook and basket with a dramatic, room-transforming display that no other plant placement achieves. Start with pothos or spider plant if you're new to hanging plants, add a hoya or string of hearts as your confidence grows, and save string of pearls and burro's tail for when you've established a reliable care routine. Related guides: Pothos Care Guide, Spider Plant Care Guide, and our complete Best Houseplants Guide.