Succulents are addicting to collect. They're usually small and inexpensive, which means it's easy to fill up your home with them. Once you run out of surfaces to display them on, you have no choice but to find new places.
That's where hanging baskets come in. Fortunately, there are several trailing succulent varieties that look elegant as they hang from your ceiling. Since succulents are drought-tolerant, they're easy no-fuss plants that you don't have to worry about.
Trailing succulents are the perfect choice if you have limited space in a small house or apartment. Hang them in the window or on the balcony and you can have something beautiful to look at without sacrificing much-needed space.
34 Trailing Succulent Varieties:
Quick Look
- Calico Kitten
- Christmas Cactus
- Climbing Aloes
- Crassula “Baby's Necklace”
- Dancing Bones
- Donkey's Tail
- Elephant Bush
- Fishbone Cactus
- Ghost Plant
- Ice Plant
- Jelly Bean
- Kenya Hyacinth
- King of Tillandsias
- Kitten Ears
- Krinkle Kurl
- Lantern Flower
- Mistletoe Cactus
- Monkey's Tail
- October Daphne
- Peanut Cactus
- Rat Tail Cactus
- Rex Begonia Vine
- Ruby Necklace
- Shark Tooth
- String of Bananas
- String of Dolphins
- String of Hearts
- String of Nickels
- String of Pearls
- String of Tears
- Trailing Jade
- Turtle Vine
- Wax Ivy
- Wax Plant
1. Calico Kitten
The calico kitten has heart-shaped leaves that also resemble cat ears. The leaves are typically white and green, although some may develop light and dark pink leaves when it gets the right amount of sun.
This succulent variety is short on top but will grow vines that may reach over 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) long. It prefers full sun but will also do well with partial shade. If you hang it in a basket outside, you'll need to bring it indoors in the winter. Indoor plants should have as much direct sun as possible.
2. Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus earned its name because of how it blooms in December. The flowers are hot pink and white and have the appearance of a flower coming out of a flower. The flowers come off of long stems that don't have leaves.
The stems look as though they're made of several segments that are connected by single points on each end. The segments are flat and may grow to be up to 1.5 inches (3.81 centimeters) long.
If you're looking for a long trailing succulent, this one is just for you. The stems will grow new segments each year and may be able to grow up to 2 feet (60.96 centimeters) in just one year. Place this plant outdoors in summer and fall to encourage the plant to grow flowers in December.
3. Climbing Aloes
Climbing aloes look similar to aloe vera, although they're in a separate aloe family. They have pointed triangular leaves that are arranged in a spiral around the stem. The stem can grow up to 33 feet (10 meters) in its natural habitat in Africa, although 16 feet (5 meters) is probably more realistic if they're grown elsewhere.
Although this aloe will climb to great heights, it can easily be trained to trail down from a hanging basket. Instead of using stakes to help it stand up, you can tilt it so it will eventually begin to lean down.
This succulent will grow clusters of orange tube-shaped flowers on a thin stem that will hang beautifully from a basket.
4. Crassula “Baby's Necklace”
The “baby's necklace” variety of Crassula is a unique succulent. The plant will grow long stems with round leaves that resemble beads on a necklace. The leaves will look greyish-green for most of the year but will display various shades of yellow and red during the summer months when it gets warm weather and plenty of sun.
Each stem will reach about 3 feet (91 centimeters) in length. The plant will stand up during the early stages but will begin trailing down as they get older. The plant prefers full sun, but it should be slowly introduced to it so it won't get sunburned. The plant should be brought indoors during winter since it can't survive cold temperatures.
This plant is also called the string of buttons. “String of buttons” and “baby's necklace” are sometimes thought to be two different plants, but they are both Crassula perforata.
5. Dancing Bones
The dancing bones plant is a cactus that's native to Brazilian rainforests. The plant is epiphytic, meaning it will grow on other plants instead of in soil. It can easily adapt to grow in soil, and a hanging basket is a perfect place for it since it naturally grows on trees.
The dancing bones cactus has bony-looking stems that grow small yellow flowers. It prefers to be kept in mostly shaded areas with plenty of water. Although this plant is bony, it doesn't like bone-dry soil, but it shouldn't be left in standing water, either. The plant will reach up to 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) in length when it's mature.
6. Donkey's Tail
The donkey's tail is one of the most popular succulent varieties when it comes to hanging baskets because they look elegant as they trail down. They're pretty easy to care for since they only need bright indirect light, a shallow hanging basket, and minimal water.
The fleshy oval leaves look squishy but do your best to resist touching them because they'll easily break off the stem. The leaves will be blue-green, although older leaves will be yellow-green. If you do break off a leaf, place it on top of the soil and it will easily form a root and regrow.
7. Elephant Bush
The elephant bush is native to South Africa and got its name from being a favorite snack of elephants and other animals. Even people will eat it in salads, too. The succulent leaves can retain water even through droughts, making this plant a much-appreciated snack.
If you're not interested in eating this plant, it makes a beautiful addition to warm balconies or sunny windows. The plant requires a lot of sun and warm temperatures, although it can adapt to partial shade. In Africa, this plant can grow as long as 20 feet (6 meters), but will likely only reach 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) in other regions. The more sun and warmth it receives, the longer it will likely get.
8. Fishbone Cactus
The fishbone cactus grows several stems with alternating leaves that resemble a fish skeleton. You may see this plant listed as a Ric Rac, zigzag, or orchid cactus in plant nurseries. The plant is related to orchids and requires similar care. If you have spare orchid substrate lying around, you can use that for the fishbone cactus.
The fishbone cactus will have light or dark green leaves. The stems will reach as long as 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) long. It may produce pink flowers that will only survive for one day, but this is a rare occurrence when it's grown outside of its natural habitat.
9. Ghost Plant
The ghost plant offers a captivating display of thick stems and multicolored leaves that trail down from a hanging basket. This plant is also commonly known as the mother-of-pearl. The two names are likely due to the plant's changing colors.
Then this succulent is given full sun, the plant takes on a pearlescent look with muted yellow and pink leaves, much like a pearl. When the plant is given partial shade, the leaves take on dusty grey and blue hues that look rather ghostly.
This plant should be given as much sun as possible and should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings since the leaves are capable of retaining water.
10. Ice Plant
The ice plant gets its name from the specks on the leaves that look like ice crystals. Another name for this plant is the Livingstone daisy, which is said to be named after Dr. David Livingstone, a doctor and missionary who explored Africa in the 1800s.
This plant has succulent leaves that are able to retain water during dry periods, making this a drought-tolerant plant that's perfect for sunny areas. It can be grown outdoors in full sun and be used as a ground cover, or you can grow it in a hanging basket. If you want to grow it inside, hang it in a window where it will receive as much direct light as possible. The plant is short but the spreading is responsible for its trailing habit.
11. Jelly Bean
The jelly bean plant has plump, bright green leaves with red tips that resemble little jelly beans. Some people call them pork-n-beans because of the brownish-bronze color they occasionally take on in the summer.
The leaves grow around a stem that can reach up to 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) long. They'll first begin growing upright but will tilt over once they become top-heavy. The plant prefers a hot and dry climate where it will receive a lot of sun. Depending on your location, you may need to keep the plant shaded during the heat of the day if the heat is brutal.
12. Kenya Hyacinth
The Kenya hyacinth is a snake plant variety that grows flowers, which is unusual for that family of plants. The plant grows long leaves up to about 16 inches (40 centimeters), making it a tall plant for hanging baskets. But, since the leaves grow from the center of a plant, the leaves will fall outward and will look lovely hanging from a basket.
The Kenya hyacinth is native to a hot and dry climate, so it will need plenty of sun and little water. If your climate is too cool or wet, you can hang this plant in a bright window where it will receive at least partial direct light.
Even though this snake plant flowers more often than other varieties, you shouldn't expect it to bloom often if you can't imitate its natural climate.
13. King of Tillandsias
Air plants are excellent plants to put in hanging baskets, and the king of Tillandsias may be the best variety to use. It's the king because it's the largest, reaching up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) wide. The leaves are long and will fall away from the center of the plant, so they will spill over the edge of the hanging basket if you choose a small one.
Air plants require humidity and don't need soil since they're epiphytic and grow on trees and rocks in the wild. You'll need to spray the plant with water each day, and it's best to soak the roots in water almost every week. This plant will grow well in partial shade. During the hottest months of the year, you may want to use indirect light so the leaves won't burn.
14. Kitten Ears
Kitten ears is an evergreen plant that can be slightly drought-tolerant because of its succulent leaves. The leaves will be dark green most of the year but will have purple leaves during the summer. The leaves are ovals that come to a point and look hairy, making them have a close resemblance to cat ears.
This plant prefers sandy soil and full sun, although it may be able to tolerate partial shade if necessary. It's a slow grower, so it may take as long as 5 years to reach maturity, depending on the growing conditions. The plant spreads out as it grows and will hang beautifully from a basket.
15. Krinkle Kurl
The Hoya carnosa compacta goes by many names. Many call it the krinkle kurl, but it's also widely known as the Hindu rope plant. It's also called a wax plant, but it shouldn't be confused with the Hoya pachyclada that we mention later.
The krinkle kurl is a truly unique plant. Its leaves look crinkled and curled, which is how it got its name. It's native to India and is epiphytic, so it's technically an air plant that can be found growing on trees in the wild. It needs plenty of airflow around the roots, so it should be planted in loose soil.
It doesn't need much water. Allow the soil to become mostly dry between waterings in the spring and summer. In the colder months, you should water it even less. This plant grows best in bright indirect light. Direct sunlight during the heat of the day will cause the leaves to burn.
16. Lantern Flower
The lantern flower is a unique succulent that is capable of trapping insects that stop to feed on the nectar it produces. It grows flowers that are about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) long that are green with brown spots. The plant grows long stems with small rounded leaves. The stems will trail down like vines, but they can also be trained to go up a trellis.
The plant is native to tropical regions, so it will need frequent watering and partial shade. This plant should never be allowed to dry out completely.
17. Mistletoe Cactus
The mistletoe cactus is unlike other cactus varieties. Instead of needing sunlight and dry soil, this plant prefers shade and frequent watering. The plant will survive in partial shade, but full shade is best. The plant can be watered again when the top inch or two of the soil dries out.
This cactus doesn't look like the others. It has pencil-thin stems that will trail down from a hanging basket. These stems are adorned with white flowers and berries. Be careful when handling this plant because the stems are fragile and can easily break off.
18. Monkey's Tail
The monkey's tail is a cactus that grows thick cylindrical stems that are covered in spines that resemble fur. Some varieties have short spines while others have longer ones that appear to be soft and furry.
This cactus grows beautiful red-orange flowers up and down the tails. It grows best in bright indirect light indoors or partial sun outside. Too much direct sun will cause the plant to burn. During the summer, the plant will grow rapidly and will need to be watered once a week.
19. October Daphne
The October Daphne is an elegant succulent variety that's prized for its clusters of pink flowers. This plant is native to Japan and grows the best when it's mostly shaded. The plant is drought tolerant, so it doesn't have to be watered frequently.
The plant grows long stems with several rounded leaves that usually grow in groups of three. The small leaves are blue-green, and the stems are reddish-brown. The bright pink flowers make a beautiful contrast to the leaves.
The stems can grow to be about 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) long, and the plant will spread to about just as wide. The foliage will spill out beautifully over the sides of a hanging basket.
20. Peanut Cactus
The peanut cactus resembles the monkey's tail cactus with its thick stems and abundance of spines. However, this variety doesn't always grow as thick, and the stems point upward even if they're trailing down, making them look like peanuts.
This cactus should be watered when the top of the soil is dried out. If you stick your finger into the soil and it's dry up to your second knuckle, it's time to give it a drink. You can stop watering altogether in the winter unless the temperature is still hot. The plant should be kept in full sun, but it may need to be shaded during the heat of the day.
In the right conditions, the peanut cactus will grow bright red flowers on the ends of the stems.
21. Rat Tail Cactus
The rat tail cactus is native to Mexico and is best suited as a house plant unless you can provide hot and dry conditions. It grows long stems that trail down and point back up. The stem is covered with small leaves, but the leaves become larger at the ends. The stems can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long when grown in the right conditions.
The leaves are typically green, but some may turn red on the ends of the leaves. It doesn't happen often, but happy plants may grow flowers that will be red or pink. The plant should have bone-dry soil before you water it again. Keeping the plant in a slightly cooler place in the winter will help the plant grow blooms in the spring.
22. Rex Begonia Vine
The rex begonia vine is an eye-catching plant that will make any room or balcony more interesting. The stems and underside of the leaves are a bright red, while the tops of the leaves are variegated with white and green. The middle vein is red, which adds great contrast to the leaf.
The plant is perfect for hanging baskets because of its trailing tendencies. The plant can grow up to 10 feet (3.04 meters) and spread out to 1 foot (30.48 centimeters). The leaves are large and grow in close proximity to each other, making the plant look bushy.
23. Ruby Necklace
The ruby necklace plant is also commonly referred to as “little pickles.” The long stems are bright reddish-purple which gives it a ruby necklace look, and the leaves are green with red tips that look a lot like little pickles.
The ruby necklace plant is a short trailing plant. The stems won't usually reach longer than 4 inches (10.16 centimeters), but the plant can spread out to 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) which allows it to trail beautifully from a hanging basket.
This drought-tolerant plant should be in full sun and shouldn't be left in wet soil.
24. Shark Tooth
The shark tooth plant is a succulent that grows several rows of pointed leaves close together up a long stem, making them look like shark teeth. The plant is a bright green that will have red leaves. Some leaves will be red and green with yellow and orange in the middle.
This plant grows best in full sun. The soil should be completely dry before you water it again. Water thoroughly so all of the soil is wet. When the plant is happy, it should grow small white flowers at the ends of the stems.
25. String of Bananas
The Senecio radicans is known as the string of bananas or the fish hooks Senecio. They grow long stems with fleshy leaves that are long, thin, and pointed. They look like bananas or fish hooks, which is how they got the name.
The plant will grow several long stems with lots of leaves. Once it has grown a lot, it will spill over the sides of the hanging basket and look like a waterfall. Expect the plant to grow rapidly when it's given plenty of water once it's dried out and in dappled shade. This plant shouldn't receive more than three hours of direct sunlight.
26. String of Dolphins
The string of dolphins looks similar to the string of bananas because the leaves are about the same length and width. However, they have a distinct look because of the “fins” on each leaf. The leaves have three points, but the two on the side are small and angled so that they look like little dolphin fins.
Just like the string of bananas, the dolphins grow best with dappled sunlight and drying out completely between waterings.
27. String of Hearts
The string of hearts is popular among house plant enthusiasts because of its rapid growth and elegant appearance. The heart-shaped leaves grow up and down the long stems that cascade over the sides of hanging baskets. The leaves have a lot of spacing between them, so the appearance is more stringy than it is bushy.
The leaves are dappled with white, light green, and dark green. Some varieties will have purple hues on the edges of leaves and on the stems. The plant is evergreen and grows well in partial shade.
28. String of Nickels
The string of nickels is similar to the string of hearts with their dispersed leaves and long stems. However, these leaves are round instead of heart-shaped and are solid green. It has a slightly more bushy appearance than the string of hearts.
This plant is delicate and can't handle direct sun. It's best grown on a covered porch or indoors near a bright window. If you live in a windy area, it would be better for you to keep this plant inside. The soil should stay moist but not wet.
29. String of Pearls
If a plant enthusiast doesn't have the string of pearls hanging in their home, it's probably on their “in search of” list. This popular plant is typically described as so cute because the mound of stems and leaves looks like a bowl of peas.
The long stems can be arranged into a swirl inside a planter if you'd prefer a bushy look, or you can let each strand hang from a basket. Like the other “string ofs,” this one won't look bushy when it hangs down, but it will grow quickly in the right conditions.
30. String of Tears
The string of tears looks like a cross between the string of bananas, hearts, and pearls. The leaves are long like the bananas, thick like the pearls, and have purple hues like the hearts. Some varieties of the string of tears have short and round leaves, making them difficult to tell apart from the string of pearls.
Like the other stringy succulent varieties, the string of tears should have dappled shade or bright indirect light. It should be watered frequently during the warm months, but the soil should dry out between waterings.
31. Trailing Jade
The trailing jade is an invasive plant in tropical climates around the world, but it's otherwise sought after by house plant lovers. The stem is thick in comparison to other succulent varieties, and each one grows several fleshy leaves.
The plant is usually one solid color ranging from light to dark green, although new growth may vary in color from the rest of the plant until it matures. It should be planted in gritty soil and receive full sun outdoors or bright light indoors. Each stem can grow to be over 1 foot (30.48 centimeters) long.
32. Turtle Vine
The turtle vine is a bushy succulent that grows long stems that will trail down if it's placed in a hanging basket. The plant grows several thin vines with numerous small leaves, which allows it to look bushy while it trails.
The heart-shaped leaves are bright green, but some varieties are purple and green or green and white. The plant prefers dry soil and partial shade. If the plant is grown indoors, bright indirect light will suit it best.
33. Wax Ivy
Wax ivy looks like your typical ivy plant, but it is indeed a succulent, which makes it drought-tolerant. It's a relative to the string of pearls even though they don't favor each other at all.
The wax ivy has succulent stems that can retain water and variegated leaves that can be white, yellow, light green, or dark green. The leaves can have 4-6 points on them. This plant is often grown indoors since it won't survive cold winters, but it can be brought outside during the warm months. Partial shade will work well for this plant.
34. Wax Plant
The Hoya pachyclada is closely related to the krinkle kurl (Hoya carnosa compacta) that we mentioned earlier. The flowers are very similar in shape in color, but the leaves are the obvious tell about which is which.
Unlike the krinkle kurl, the wax plant has several leaves on each stem that are oblong and come to a point. They're usually a solid bright green, but some varieties may have yellow and red edges. The stems can trail up to 10 feet (3.04 meters). This evergreen plant grows best when it has partial shade and plenty of water.