9 Best Outdoor Hanging Plants For Your Georgia Patio
You do not need a full garden to make your Georgia patio feel rich and inviting. The space above you is often the most overlooked design opportunity, and hanging plants can transform it instantly.
When baskets are filled with the right varieties, your patio stops feeling flat and starts feeling layered and alive.
Heat, humidity, and sudden summer storms test outdoor plants in Georgia, so smart selection matters. The best hanging plants hold their shape, keep flowering, and handle changing conditions without constant attention.
Strong growth paired with the right light exposure makes the difference between frustration and steady color.
A well placed hanging plant can anchor a seating area and draw the eye upward in a natural way. With the right choices, your Georgia patio feels cooler, fuller, and far more intentional throughout the season.
1. Boston Fern Brings Classic Southern Porch Charm
Nothing says Southern hospitality quite like a Boston fern swaying gently from your porch ceiling. These classic beauties have graced Georgia homes for generations, and they keep coming back because they just work.
Their feathery fronds create that soft, welcoming look that makes any patio feel like a relaxing escape.
Boston ferns absolutely love Georgia’s humidity, which is great news since we have plenty of it. They do best in spots that get bright but indirect light, making them perfect for covered patios or areas that get morning sun and afternoon shade.
Direct afternoon sun can scorch their delicate leaves, so placement matters more than you might think.
Keeping them happy means consistent moisture without letting them sit in water. Check the soil daily during hot spells because these ferns get thirsty fast when temperatures climb.
A good soak when the top inch feels dry keeps them looking full and green. Misting occasionally helps too, especially if you have them hanging in a breezier spot.
They grow quickly once established, filling out baskets beautifully by midsummer. Trim off any brown fronds as they appear to keep the plant looking fresh.
Boston ferns can overwinter indoors if you want to save them, or you can treat them as annuals and start fresh each spring. Either way, they bring that timeless Georgia porch aesthetic that never goes out of style.
2. Calibrachoa Keeps Blooming Through Georgia Heat
Calibrachoa looks like miniature petunias but packs way more staying power in Georgia summers. These tough little bloomers shrug off heat that would stop other flowers cold, producing masses of color from spring straight through fall.
Gardeners across the state swear by them because they deliver nonstop without much fussing.
Full sun brings out their best performance, so hang them where they get at least six hours of direct light daily. They come in practically every color you can imagine, from deep purples to bright oranges, making it easy to match your patio style.
Mixing different colors in one basket creates an eye-catching display that stays vibrant all season.
Watering matters with calibrachoa since they prefer consistent moisture but hate soggy soil. During peak Georgia summer, that might mean watering every day, especially for baskets in full sun.
They bounce back quickly if you forget occasionally, but regular watering keeps those blooms coming strong.
Feeding them every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer keeps the flower production going. They naturally stay compact and trail nicely without much pruning, though you can trim them back if they get leggy.
Calibrachoa handles our humidity better than regular petunias and resists the diseases that often plague other hanging basket favorites. That combination of beauty and toughness makes them a Georgia patio staple that delivers exactly what you want.
3. Trailing Petunias Spill Over Baskets With Nonstop Color
Trailing petunias create those stunning waterfalls of color that make people stop and stare. Modern varieties bred specifically for heat tolerance perform beautifully across Georgia, giving you that cottage-garden look with serious staying power.
When you get them going right, they absolutely cover themselves in blooms that just keep coming.
Placement in full sun brings out their showstopping potential, though they appreciate some afternoon shade in the hottest parts of Georgia. Wave petunias and Supertunias are bred to handle our climate better than older varieties, so look for those names when shopping.
They spread quickly, filling baskets fast and creating that lush, overflowing effect everyone loves.
Water needs run high with trailing petunias, especially once they hit their stride and start blooming heavily. Check them daily and water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Hanging baskets dry out faster than you think, and petunias will let you know quickly if they need a drink by wilting dramatically.
Regular feeding makes a huge difference in bloom production. Use a fertilizer formulated for flowering plants every week or two to keep them pumping out flowers.
Deadheading spent blooms helps too, though newer varieties are more self-cleaning. Trailing petunias sometimes get leggy by late summer, but cutting them back by about a third rejuvenates them for a strong fall showing.
They bring bold color and classic appeal that works beautifully on Georgia patios from spring through the first frost.
4. Lantana Handles Full Sun Without Complaints
Lantana handles Georgia heat reliably and keeps blooming when everything else looks tired. This tough customer thrives in conditions that stress other plants, making it perfect for those scorching patio spots where nothing else survives.
Plus, butterflies absolutely mob it, adding movement and life to your outdoor space all summer long.
The flower clusters change color as they mature, creating a multicolored effect that looks amazing up close. You get oranges fading to yellow, purples shifting to pink, and all sorts of combinations depending on the variety you choose.
That color-changing trick means your baskets always look interesting and dynamic rather than static.
Full sun brings out lantana’s best performance, and it actually prefers drier conditions once established. Let the soil dry out between waterings rather than keeping it constantly moist.
This makes lantana ideal for busy folks who might forget to water occasionally or for baskets in spots that are hard to reach. Too much water actually causes more problems than too little with this plant.
Lantana grows vigorously in Georgia’s long growing season, trailing nicely over basket edges while staying full in the center. Trim it back if it gets too enthusiastic, and it will branch out and bloom even more.
The flowers attract not just butterflies but hummingbirds too, creating a wildlife show right on your patio.
It handles humidity without the fungal issues that plague other plants, making it a smart, low-maintenance choice for Georgia gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal effort.
5. Begonias Brighten Shadier Georgia Patios
Shady patios present a challenge, but begonias solve it beautifully with their shade-loving nature and nonstop blooms.
These workhorses thrive in spots that get filtered light or just a few hours of morning sun, making them perfect for covered porches or tree-shaded areas.
They bring serious color to places where most flowering plants would struggle.
Tuberous begonias produce the biggest, showiest flowers, while wax begonias stay more compact with smaller but incredibly abundant blooms. Dragon wing begonias offer something in between, with larger leaves and flowers that cascade beautifully.
All three types handle Georgia’s shady spots well, so your choice comes down to the look you want.
Moisture matters with begonias since they like consistently damp soil but absolutely hate sitting in water. Good drainage is critical, so make sure your baskets have plenty of holes and use quality potting mix.
Shady spots naturally stay moister, so you might water less frequently than with sun-loving plants. Still, check regularly because hanging baskets can dry out even in shade.
Begonias appreciate Georgia’s humidity but watch for any signs of powdery mildew on the leaves. Good air circulation helps prevent problems, so avoid cramming too many plants together.
Pinch off spent flowers to keep them looking tidy and encourage more blooms. They perform beautifully from spring through fall, bringing cheerful color to those tricky shaded spaces where other options fall short.
For Georgia patios that don’t get much direct sun, begonias deliver exactly what you need.
6. Sweet Potato Vine Fills Baskets Fast And Stays Bold
Sweet potato vine brings drama through foliage rather than flowers, and it grows so fast you can practically watch it happen. The leaves come in stunning chartreuse, deep purple, or tricolor combinations that add instant impact to any basket.
This vigorous grower fills in quickly and trails impressively, creating that lush, overflowing look in record time.
Georgia’s heat and humidity make sweet potato vine incredibly happy. It thrives in full sun but also tolerates partial shade, making it adaptable to different patio situations.
The chartreuse varieties practically glow in lower light, while the purple ones create dramatic contrast against lighter backgrounds. Mixing both colors in one basket creates an eye-catching display that needs no flowers to look amazing.
Watering needs stay moderate since sweet potato vine handles brief dry spells better than many hanging basket plants. It will wilt if it gets too dry but bounces back quickly once watered.
This forgiving nature makes it great for beginners or anyone who travels occasionally. Just give it a good soak when the soil feels dry an inch down.
The vines can grow several feet long by late summer, creating spectacular cascades that draw attention from across the yard. Trim them back anytime they get too long or start looking sparse.
Sweet potato vine roots easily, so you can even stick cuttings in water and grow new plants for next year. Many Georgia gardeners pair it with flowering plants in mixed baskets, where it provides the trailing foliage while flowers add pops of color up top.
7. Fuchsia Thrives On Covered Patios With Morning Light
Fuchsias bring elegance with their pendant flowers that dangle like little ballerinas beneath the foliage.
These beauties prefer cooler conditions than most hanging basket plants, but they work wonderfully on covered Georgia patios that get gentle morning light and stay shaded during the hot afternoon hours.
The flowers come in gorgeous color combinations, often with contrasting sepals and petals that create a two-tone effect.
Morning sun with afternoon shade creates the ideal situation for fuchsias in Georgia’s climate. In much of Georgia, fuchsias perform best in spring and fall and may struggle during peak summer heat.
They struggle in intense heat and direct afternoon sun, so placement makes all the difference between thriving plants and struggling ones.
North-facing covered porches or spots under deep eaves work beautifully, keeping them cool enough to perform well even during summer.
Consistent moisture keeps fuchsias happy since they hate drying out completely. Check them daily during warm weather and water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
They appreciate humidity, which Georgia provides in abundance, but good air circulation helps prevent any fungal issues. A light misting on particularly hot days gives them a boost.
Fuchsias bloom heavily when fed regularly with a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks. Pinch off spent flowers to encourage more blooms, though many varieties are somewhat self-cleaning.
They grow more vigorously during cooler parts of the season, often putting on a spectacular show in spring and again in fall. Some Georgia gardeners even overwinter them indoors, cutting them back hard and keeping them barely moist until spring arrives again.
For those special shaded spots on your patio, fuchsias bring a refined beauty that stands out from the usual hanging basket choices.
8. Verbena Keeps Flowering Even In Humid Weather
Verbena stands up to Georgia summers like a champion, blooming reliably through heat and humidity that stops lesser plants. The flowers form in tight clusters that create a carpet of color across the plant, and they keep coming from late spring until frost.
Modern varieties bred for disease resistance perform especially well in our climate, avoiding the powdery mildew that plagued older types.
Full sun brings out verbena’s best performance, making it perfect for those hot, exposed spots on your patio. It actually needs good light to bloom heavily, so avoid shady locations.
The trailing varieties work beautifully in hanging baskets, spilling over the edges while staying full in the center. Colors range from soft pastels to vibrant jewel tones, giving you plenty of options to match your style.
Watering needs stay moderate since verbena tolerates brief dry periods better than many flowering annuals. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings rather than keeping it constantly wet.
This tougher nature means less fussing and more enjoying, especially during busy summer weeks. Verbena actually performs better with this approach than with constant moisture.
Regular feeding every two weeks keeps the blooms coming strong throughout the season. Deadheading isn’t strictly necessary with newer varieties, but removing spent flower clusters encourages even more blooms.
Verbena handles Georgia’s humidity without the disease problems that plague petunias and some other hanging basket favorites. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds too, adding extra interest to your patio space.
For reliable color that just keeps going no matter what summer throws at it, verbena delivers consistently across Georgia.
9. Bacopa Adds Soft Blooms That Last Through The Season
Bacopa offers something different with its tiny, delicate flowers that cover the plant in a soft cloud of color. The small blooms might not grab attention from across the yard, but up close they create a charming, almost fairy-tale effect that adds subtle beauty to your patio.
White is the classic color, though you can find lavender and pink varieties too.
Partial shade to full sun works for bacopa, making it adaptable to different patio situations across Georgia. It handles morning sun with afternoon shade particularly well, though it also performs in full sun if watered consistently.
The trailing habit creates a gentle cascade rather than a dramatic waterfall, giving it a softer appearance than some bolder hanging basket choices.
Consistent moisture keeps bacopa blooming heavily since it dislikes drying out completely. Check it regularly and water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
It bounces back from brief wilting but performs better with steady moisture. Bacopa appreciates Georgia’s humidity and rarely has disease problems, making it a low-maintenance choice once you get the watering rhythm down.
The flowers are somewhat self-cleaning, though pinching off spent blooms encourages even more flowering. Feed every couple of weeks with a balanced fertilizer to support continuous blooming.
Bacopa sometimes slows down during the hottest part of summer but picks back up as temperatures moderate in fall. Many Georgia gardeners use it in mixed baskets where its trailing habit and soft flowers complement bolder blooms beautifully.
It brings a gentle, romantic quality that works especially well on covered porches or intimate patio spaces where you can appreciate its delicate charm up close.
