Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil
These are the best trailing succulents for hanging baskets. They are perfect for you front porch, balcony or patio. And, the best thing about them is that they require very little maintenance.
All they need is a nice bright area and well-draining soil and they’ll pretty much be happy. They can tolerate dry spells and you don’t have to prune them often.
What’s amazing about trailing succulents is that they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. This gives you the ability to select the one you like most.
Best Trailing Succulents
Burro’s Tail
Image from Pinterest
Burros tail (sedum morganianum ‘Burrito’) is often referred to as Donkey’s tail (sedum morganianum) as well. Although the two are technically different plants, they’re very similar which makes people use them interchangeably.
That said, the care is the same for both. And, they look very much alike as well. So, you can go with one or the other.
These are evergreen succulents that trial down beautifully as they get longer. They can grow up to 4 feet long and have thick leaves where they store water.
As such, you don’t want to overwater them. And, they do better in loamy or sandy soil as opposed to clay.
String of Tears
Image from Pinterest
String of tears (Senecio herreianus) gets it name because of their tear or raindrop shaped leaves that are attached to the long stems of the plant. Some people also call them String of Beads.
Like other succulents, the leaves are thick and fleshy because they store water. And, if you see them start to “deflate” that means that they’re beginning to get dehydrated. That’s a sign it is time to water them.
When left unpruned, these can grow up to 4 feet long, which makes them perfect for hanging containers or pots where you allow it to overflow over the edges.
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Little Missy Succulent
Sedum little missy succulents are another gorgeous hanging basket option. This is perfect if you want the plant not only to trail down but also have some body to it.
With some succulents, they just overflow over the edges of the container and go straight down. But, the little missy will likewise puff up a bit giving you some fullness over the basket as well.
It features small, heart shaped variegate leaves that are grouped closely together. Bees and butterflies love them. So, you can hang their baskets in from porch or patio to attract pollinators to your front or backyard.
While it isn’t too picky about soil, it is important to allow excess moisture to drain completely whenever you water the plant.
String of Dolphins
This is one of my favorite succulents because of its amazingly unique shapes.
If you look closely, you’ll see its leaves resemble the shape of dolphins jumping out of the water.
Unfortunately, string of dolphin succulents are rare. So, if you can find them online, do take advantage of it.
That said, it is one of the best trailing succulents for hanging baskets because its foliage will make it instantly stand out. They can grow up to 3 feet long. Although it will take around 3 to 5 years before it reaches this.
Ruby Necklace Succulent
Image from Pinterest
This is a unique looking trailing succulent with bean-shaped foliage and thin, purple colored stems.
They enjoy lots of sunlight, but prefer indirect rather than direct exposure. It is also very important to keep them in well-draining soil to prevent overwatering or letting them sit in water for long periods of time.
Mezoo Trailing Red
Image from Wikimedia Commons
In case you’re looking for a trailing succulent with a bit more density that isn’t overly fleshy, check out the mezoo trailing red.
These sun-loving succulents produce red blooms which gives it their name.
In addition to their lovely flowers, I love how its leaves looks. These are green in color with white variegation. These look stunning as they drape down from hanging baskets.
String of Bananas
Image from Pinterest
By now, you already know that many of trailing succulents have foliage that take the shape of all sorts of different things. And, there will be more below.
In this case, the thick foliage take the form of small bananas. And, they look stunning.
They are spaced a small distance apart and slightly cure away from one another. This makes this small plant amazing to look at once the stems get long.
String of bananas are able to grow up to 3 feet long. But, you can prune them as needed depending on the look you’re going for.
But, be aware that they are toxic to humans and pets. As such, hanging the basket higher where they’re out of reach for young kids, dogs or cats is a good idea.
October Daphne
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Next on our list of best trailing succulents for hanging baskets is the October Daphne.
This is perfect if you want something that resembles flowers. That’s because their thick leaves take the mold of flowers. But, they are green in color with hints of pink on the edges.
Like the other succulents in our list, October Daphne will start to overflow over the edges of the basket if you let them keep growing. This makes them amazing to look at.
String of Hearts
Image from Pinterest
The string of hearts is a fast growing succulent with small, beautiful heart-shaped leaves. While they aren’t as fleshy as some of the other plants featured here, they still store enough water to be able to tolerate dry spells.
But, unlike some of the others that can grow very long, these don’t get quite as lengthy or as big. As such, they’re a good fit for small apartments, balconies and other spaces where you don’t want your hanging baskets to overwhelm the rest of the interior décor.
Calico Kitten Crassula
Image from Pinterest
If you want a lovely trailing succulent that has colors other than some shade of green, this is a great option.
The calico kitten crassula features thick, heart-shaped leaves that are a combination of green, pink, cream and rose colors. They likewise bloom during late spring to early summer.
As with other succulents, they enjoy warm conditions. And, it is a good idea to keep them away from frost which they can’t tolerate.
These grow more beautiful as their stems get longer, which makes them perfect for hanging baskets or walls.
Climbing Aloe
Image from Pinterest
At first glance, climbing aloes look like red firecrackers that are hung from overhead. Although, they can vary in color, so you may see others that are orange as well as other hues.
These are lovely succulents that thrive in moderate to slightly warm conditions. They enjoy a good amount of sun and well-drained soil.
String of Pearls
Image from Pinterest
String of Pearls are very similar to String of Tears. But, they shape of their leaves are a bit different.
With these ones, you have circular shaped foliage. As such, when you pile them up into a container, they look like a cu of green peas on the dinner table.
On the other hand String of Tears are more oval shaped with a bit of an edge on one side. This makes them look more like raindrops.
They love sunlight although do avoid very intense direct sunlight like that in the afternoons or during the peak of summer. Good airflow is likewise essential which makes them perfect for hanging in your front porch.
Rat Tail Cactus
Image from Pinterest
Rat tail cactus looks very different from the cactus you normally see in movies. Instead of the large, stiff green spiky plant, you have a small, vine-like succulent that grows to as long as 4 feet once it matures.
These trailing stems make it great for growing in small pots where they can sprawl out and around the container.
You can prune them if you want. But, if allowed to grow, they’ll reach between 4 to 6 feet long.
You’ll also want to check them out during spring up to around mid-summer when they bloom. Their flowers can be orange, pink or reddish in color.
