One characteristic of bacopa is that it won’t wilt when it’s thirsty. However, it the soil does dry out, bacopa will drop its flowers and buds, so keep this plant moist and never let it dry out between waterings. If bacopa becomes too dry and stops blooming, don’t despair; with proper care and enough water, blooms should reappear within a few weeks.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11; usually grown as an annualColor Varieties: White, pink, blue, lavenderSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, fertile; slightly acidic
Fuchsias have a few specific growing conditions. They prefer temperatures of 55 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They thrive in high humidity, making it difficult to grow them in hot and dry climates. They like to be kept moist but not soggy, and they’re susceptible to root rot, so be sure to use a fast-draining potting soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–11; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: Red, pink, white, salmon, violet, purple, bicolorsSun Exposure: Part shade to full shade; a few varieties tolerate full sunSoil Needs: Rich, moisture-retentive, fast-draining
Verbena is available in many different colors. Blooms can be solid-colored, have light or dark eyes, or can be bicolored. Verbenas pair well with many plants, including calibrachoa, creeping Jenny, sweet potato vine, bacopa, nemesia, and diascia.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11; usually planted as annualsColor Varieties: White, pink, coral, red, peach, magenta, blue, purple, and violetSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained
During the growing season, Calibrachoa can become leggy and sprawling. If your Calibrachoa starts to look less full than you’d like it to be, simply cut it back, and it should grow back quickly and fuller than before. Calibrachoa pair well with most mounding or trailing plants and will spill over the edges of your hanging baskets, as well as fill in gaps between other plants.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11Color Varieties: Violet, blue, pink, red, magenta, yellow, bronze, white; solid or bicolor, single or double bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained
Although this plant looks as if it could be finicky, it is extremely easy to grow. Both heat- and drought-tolerant, ‘Diamond Frost’ Euphorbia doesn’t need much fertilizer. It combines well with other plants, fills in gaps between plants, and spills over the edges of hanging baskets.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–12; usually grown as an annualColor Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained
Lobelias prefer soil that is a bit sandy but also rich in organic material, require regular water, and need to be fed every two weeks. They require plenty of space to grow, so don’t crowd them. Sun requirements depend on the cultivar so be sure to read plant labels carefully. Traditionally, lobelia was grown in partial shade, but newer varieties can tolerate full to partial sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 –11; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: White, many shades of blue to violet, with yellow to white throatsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–12; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: Silver foliage and stems; tiny greenish-yellow to white flowers in springSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained
With new colors and patterns available each season, no flower provides the ongoing profusion of color as petunias planted in a sunny location. While early hybrids tended to become leggy and untidy if not cut back, more recent varieties are free from this habit. The Tumbelina series of petunias are especially well-suited for hanging baskets, with fragrant, long-lasting, double flowers. Petunias can suffer a bit in very wet and humid conditions.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–11; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: All colors except brown and blackSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained
While corm/tuberous begonias require near full shade in very hot climates such as the southwest U.S., in cooler climates they require a few hours of sun each day. Seeded bedding-plant forms of begonia require more sun than the corm/tuberous varieties. Begonia baskets can be overwintered indoors if you can keep the humidity levels above 50 percent. Some gardeners also have luck digging and saving the tubers over winter for planting the following spring. Store them in a cool but dry area for the winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–11; usually grown as annualsColor Varieties: Pink, red, yellow, salmon, rose, orange, whiteSun Exposure: Part shade to full shadeSoil Needs: Light, porous, moderately rich
