Hanging plants are one of the smartest ways to bring greenery into a home — they add lush, cascading foliage at eye level and overhead without using up a single shelf or surface. They soften hard corners, draw the eye upward, make small spaces feel greener, and — handily — keep trailing plants up out of reach of pets and toddlers. Whether you want something foolproof or something jaw-dropping, here are the best trailing plants to hang, sorted by what you're after.
#The easiest hanging plants (foolproof trailers)
If you want cascading greenery with minimal effort, start here:
- Pothos — the ultimate easy trailer. Fast, forgiving, tolerant of low to bright indirect light, and it roots from cuttings so you can make it fuller. See pothos care.
- Heartleaf philodendron — just as easy, with soft heart-shaped leaves that drape beautifully. Great in lower light. See philodendron care.
- Spider plant — arching, striped, pet-safe, and it dangles baby plantlets you can pot up. See spider plant care.
- Tradescantia (inch plant) — fast-growing and colourful (purples, silvers, greens); loves bright light and roots in a glass of water.
#The most dramatic hanging plants (statement trailers)
For a real "wow" cascade, these deliver — with a bit more care:
- String of pearls — those unmistakable strands of green beads; needs very bright light and careful watering. See string of pearls care.
- String of hearts — delicate heart-shaped leaves on trailing strands; easy and fast in bright light.
- English ivy — classic, elegant trailing foliage (bright, cool spots suit it best).
- Hoya — trailing waxy leaves plus clusters of scented flowers when happy. See hoya care.
- Boston fern — a lush, cascading fountain of fronds, and pet-safe (keep the humidity up). See Boston fern care.
#The best pet-safe hanging plants
Hanging plants and pets are a natural pairing — height keeps foliage out of reach — but for extra peace of mind, these trailers are non-toxic:
- Spider plant — the top pet-safe trailer. See spider plant care.
- Boston fern and other true ferns — lush and non-toxic.
- Hoya — generally considered pet-safe, with the bonus of blooms.
Note that many popular trailers — pothos, philodendron, string of pearls, ivy — are toxic if chewed, so hanging them genuinely high is important with curious pets. See pet-friendly houseplants.
#Matching the plant to your light
As always, choose by the light your hanging spot actually gets — see how much light houseplants need:
- Low to medium light: pothos, heartleaf philodendron.
- Bright, indirect light: spider plant, hoya, ferns, tradescantia.
- Very bright / some direct sun: string of pearls, string of hearts, ivy.
Remember that light often comes from the side (a window), while a hanging plant is up high — so hang light-lovers near a window, not in the dark center of a room.
#How to care for plants up high
Hanging plants have a couple of quirks worth knowing:
- They dry out faster. Warm air rises, so plants up high are often warmer and drier than floor-level plants — check the soil a little more often. See watering houseplants.
- Watering can be awkward. Either take the plant down to water over a sink and let it drain fully before rehanging, or use a hanging pot with a built-in drip saucer and water carefully — never let it sit in a full saucer.
- Rotate them occasionally so they trail and grow evenly on all sides.
- Prune to keep them full. Snip leggy vines back to a node to encourage bushier growth, and replant the cuttings — see how to prune houseplants.
- Mind the weight and fixings. A watered plant is heavy — use a secure hook rated for the weight, ideally into a stud or with a proper anchor.
#Where to hang them
- In front of a window — the best light, and the cascade looks stunning backlit.
- In a corner — a hanging plant softens an empty corner beautifully.
- Above furniture — over a sideboard, desk, or bathroom shelf to add greenery without clutter.
- In a small space — hanging plants are a small-apartment secret weapon; see small-space plant ideas.
#The bottom line
Hanging plants give you lush, cascading greenery using the one space most people forget: the air. Start with a foolproof pothos, philodendron, or spider plant; reach for a string of pearls or string of hearts when you want drama; and choose spider plants or ferns if you want pet-safe. Match each to its light, hang it near a window, water it a touch more often, and prune it to stay full — and you'll have gorgeous trailing greenery overhead, no surface required.