Ferns are amongst the most popular foliage plants you can grow, and a magnificent go-to for shady areas of a garden. Quite often, they can be at their most dramatic when held captive in containers – spilling over the sides of large pots and pouring their elegant swords or frothy angles in all directions. To raise your game, whether you grow your ferns indoors or outside on a porch or balcony, you can grow certain ferns in hanging baskets that create drama and impact in high places.
Ferns are unique plants in that they do not reproduce by flowers. They are ancient plants that reproduce by spores, which you can see on the undersides of their fronds. In the garden, a fern hanging basket is great for areas with shade – and even deep shade, depending on the type. Going vertical with these characterful plants gives you a chance to showcase their varied foliage colors, sizes, shapes and textures. Here are some of the most impactful for fern hanging baskets, plus some great companions to lift your ambitions even further.
Best Ferns in Hanging Baskets
Make sure you understand the specific growing conditions for the ferns you choose. Most ferns require at least some shade, plenty of humidity, warm temperatures, and moist soil, but there is some variation depending on type of fern. Kimberly Queen fern, for instance, enjoys more light – while Japanese holly fern needs less moisture.
Soil in containers dries out more quickly than soil in garden beds, so be prepared to water your hanging baskets more frequently. If you’ll be growing a hanging fern indoors, you might need to mist it to create humidity in dry air. Use an ultra-fine mister like the Bealee Plant Misters from Amazon. Apart from watering and humidity issues, adding a little balanced, water-soluble fertilizer like TPS Nutrients Fern Fertilizer from Amazon during the growing season is adequate for most potted ferns.
Choose your ferns for hanging baskets based on available growing conditions. Certain larger ferns are not ideal for containers, but those in this selection will all flourish in hanging baskets, whether you are hoping to brighten up a low light room or a perennial shade garden. You can play around with container shapes and colors when selecting hanging baskets for ferns. Subtle tones allow bright green foliage to pop – while textural containers work with the naturalistic appeal of your plants. Here are some of the best plants for stunning hanging fern baskets.
1. Boston Fern
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is the classic choice for a hanging basket. It is easy to care for and has elegant, arching fronds that are perfect for spilling over the sides of a raised container. Boston fern hanging baskets need warm temperatures, so you can grow them outside in summer – but unless you live in USDA zones 9-11, bring hanging baskets indoors to keep them safe and happy in the winter months.
When growing a Boston fern hanging basket, look for different cultivars for more variety. ‘Tiger Fern’ has gold and green variegated fronds, while ‘Dallas Fern’ is a compact variety which is perfect for smaller baskets. Start your hanging basket adventure with the Element By Altman Plants Boston Fern from Walmart.
2. Kimberly Queen Fern
Another tropical species, Kimberly queen (Nephrolepsis obliterata) has similar foliage to the Boston fern. Also known as sword fern, the fronds are long and lance-shaped and look great in a hanging basket. Kimberly queen ferns are also easy to grow and add elegance and individuality to quirkier hanging planters.
One advantage over the popular Boston fern is that it is less messy and sheds its small leaves only rarely. It also tolerates more direct light, so choose this type for a sunnier spot. You can buy a Costa Farms Kimberly Queen Fern from Amazon.
3. Japanese Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum is a unique evergreen holly fern with glossy green leaves and serrated edges, reminiscent of holly leaves. You can grow Japanese holly fern outdoors in summer or indoors year-round in a spot that gets some afternoon shade.
The soil for this fern does not have to be as moist as for other types, so it’s a good choice for a hanging basket that will dry out more quickly. Grab a Japanese Holly Fern from Nature Hills while stocks last.
4. Asparagus Fern
Asparagus fern (Asparagus aethiopicus), also known as foxtail fern, has feathery fronds and is a tropical evergreen. This makes it great for outdoor baskets in summer and indoor containers year-round. In fact, in some areas of the US, this pretty fern is invasive, so growing it in pots is actually the best thing.
In filtered shade, the frothy asparagus fern will be bright green. It will grow just fine in deep shade as well, but in this case the color will be lighter. You can pick up a Sprengeri Asparagus Fern from Amazon.
5. Staghorn Fern
Staghorn fern is a unique epiphytic fern, meaning it thrives without soil. It grows large, antler-like foliage that looks very dramatic hanging from an appropriate mounting. That said, staghorn fern can be tricky to grow, so it’s not for beginners.
This hanging basket fern needs specific conditions, including bright but indirect light, warm temperatures, and very high humidity. It should be watered infrequently, but heavily. Buy CTS Air Plants Staghorn Ferns in Hanging Baskets from Walmart.
6. Best Fern Companions
Ferns are showstoppers that don’t really need companions. Just one healthy fern is simple yet elegant, and can make a creative container in a vertical display. That said, it can be great fun to make mixed baskets with ferns, accentuating their form with novel contrasts and differing tones. Here are some good ideas for companions.
- Mix Ferns: One of the important considerations for companion plants is that they all have the same growing conditions. So why not mix different types of ferns in one container? A feathery asparagus fern with a dwarf Boston fern, for example, provides a nice textural contrast, and both need similar light and moisture conditions.
- Impatiens: For a flower to pair with hanging ferns, consider growing impatiens. Like most ferns, these tropical annuals like shade and moist soil. Use them between ferns in a hanging container to add a splash of color. Blend your ferns with gorgeous Sol Luna Pink Impatiens Plants from Walmart.
- Polka Dot Plant: For rich flamboyant colors, try a polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya). This warm-weather perennial is popular as a houseplant or terrarium plant. It thrives in partial shade or indirect light and likes rich, moist soil. Polka dot plants have speckled leaves in shades of pink, white, and red. Enjoy a mixed combination with Fam Plant Store’s Polka Dot Plant Collection from Amazon.
- Coleus: Another plant well known for its spectacular foliage, coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) is easy to grow and comes in a variety of colors. The flowers aren’t special, but the leaves include mixes of green, chartreuse, burgundy, burnt orange, pink, chocolate and purple. Intersperse yours with frothy or elongated ferns for an interesting mixed basket that will thrive in partial shade. Buy bold Coleus Defiance starter plants from Amazon for zingy greens and rusty reds.
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