Renovating the garden has been my passion for many years, and through experimentation, I’ve curated a list of cascading plant species that add life and vibrancy to any garden space.
If you’re searching for the perfect plants to enhance your garden, consider the beauty of cascading varieties.
These plants create a lush haven of greenery and blooms that flow gracefully over the edges of containers, walls, and garden beds.
1. Lobelia (Lobelia Erinus)
Do you love the charming beauty of lobelia?
Standing 6-12 inches tall and spreading 6-9 inches wide, it boasts lance-shaped leaves. Its profuse flowering, in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white, adds vibrancy.
Thriving in partial sun and moist, well-drained soil within USDA zones 10-11, lobelia is ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, or adding charm to walls and gates.
2. Million Bells (Calibrachoa spp.)
Million bells cascades gracefully with its trailing habit, reaching 6-12 inches in height and spreading 12-24 inches wide.
Its small, oval leaves complement vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in an array of hues like pink, purple, yellow, and red.
Living in full sun with well-drained soil, it’s suitable for USDA zones 9-11. Perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, or adorning walls and gates.
3. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum Majus)
Nasturtiums, with their trailing vines, grow up to 12 inches tall and spread 12-18 inches wide. Their round, peltate leaves are a unique feature.
Bursting with vibrant flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red, they add a pop of color to any garden.
Growing in full sun with moderate water in well-draining soil, they’re suitable for USDA zones 9-11. Great for hanging baskets, window boxes, or cascading over walls and gates.
4. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia Nummularia)
Making you garden a lush carpet with creeping jenny. This plant cascades elegantly, reaching heights of 2-4 inches and spreading 12-18 inches wide.
While it occasionally produces small, yellow flowers, its foliage is its main attraction. Preferring partial shade to full sun and moist, well-draining soil, it thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, or cascading over walls and gates.
5. Ivy (Hedera spp.)
Make your window boxes fresh with Ivy. This plant varies in height from 6 inches to 6 feet and spreading abundantly.
Its evergreen, lobed leaves add texture and depth. While ivy flowers are inconspicuous, its foliage comes in shades of green, variegated, or gold.
Preferring partial to full shade with moderate water in well-drained soil, it adapts to USDA zones 5-11.
6. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea Batatas)
The Sweet Potato Vine is easy to grow with 6-12 inches tall and 2-4 feet wide. Its heart-shaped or lobed leaves range from vibrant green to deep purple, adding a splash of color.
While it occasionally produces small, inconspicuous flowers, its foliage is the main attraction.
Growing well in full sun with well-drained soil, it’s suitable for USDA zones 9-11. Ideal for covering walls and soils.
7. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum)
Add fragrant charm to your home with baskets of Creeping Thyme. It cascades gracefully, growing 2-4 inches tall and spreading 12-18 inches wide.
Its tiny, aromatic leaves are round or oval, forming a dense mat. Delicate pink, lavender, or white flowers bloom in summer, attracting bees.
Thriving in full sun with well-drained soil, it’s adaptable to USDA zones 4-9.
8. Bacopa (Sutera Cordata)
Your garden will be attractive with Bacopa. It cascades delicately, reaching heights of 6-12 inches and spreading 12-24 inches wide.
Its small, oval leaves create a lush backdrop. Abundant tiny flowers bloom in shades of white, pink, blue, or purple, attracting butterflies.
Living in partial to full sun with consistently moist soil, it’s adaptable to USDA zones 9-11. Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, or adding beauty to walls and gates.
9. Trailing Verbena (Verbena spp.)
Trailing Verbena is a vibrant cascading plant with a trailing growth habit, reaching 6-12 inches in height and spreading 12-24 inches.
It produces clusters of small, fragrant flowers in shades of purple, pink, red, and white, blooming from spring to frost.
Thriving in full sun, it prefers well-drained soil and regular watering. This perennial is great for hanging baskets, window boxes, and borders.
10. Wave Petunia (Petunia x Hybrida)
With a spreading growth habit, Wave Petunia makes your garden full of colors. It can reach 6-12 inches in height and spread up to 4 feet.
It showcases large, vibrant flowers in various colors, including pink, purple, red, and white, blooming from spring to frost.
Living in full sun, it prefers well-drained soil and regular watering. This annual is suitable for hanging baskets, window boxes, and garden beds.
11. Creeping Phlox (Phlox Subulata)
Have you ever tried to grow Creeping Phlox? It is a low-growing plant, reaching 4-6 inches in height and spreading up to 2 feet.
It produces masses of small, star-shaped flowers in pink, purple, white, or blue, blooming in spring. It prefers well-drained soil, full sun and occasional watering.
You can use it for ground cover, rock gardens, and borders.
12. Silver Falls (Dichondra Argentea)
Why don’t you plant Silver Falls in elevated containers, allowing its silvery foliage to drape elegantly over the edges?
This plant is a stunning cascading plant with a trailing growth habit, reaching 2-3 inches in height and spreading up to 4 feet.
It features small, silver-green leaves and tiny, inconspicuous flowers, blooming in late spring. It grows best in full sun to partial shade, with well-drained soil and minimal watering.
13. Algerian Ivy (Hedera Canariensis)
Algerian Ivy is a robust cascading plant with a vigorous trailing growth habit, reaching up to 40 feet in height and spreading widely.
It features large, glossy green leaves and small, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in late summer to fall. It lives in full sun to deep shade, well-drained soil and regular watering.
This evergreen perennial is ideal for ground cover, hanging baskets, and vertical gardens.
14. Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia Nummularia ‘Aurea’)
Golden Creeping Jenny is a must-have cascading plant with a low, trailing growth habit, reaching 2-4 inches in height and spreading up to 2 feet.
It gets bright yellow-green leaves and small, yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. This plant prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
You can create a cascading effect by hanging baskets or letting it cover the ground.
15. Lotus Vine (Lotus Berthelotii)
Lotus Vine is an eye-catching cascading plant with a trailing growth habit, reaching 6-8 inches in height and spreading up to 2 feet.
It shows striking, beak-shaped red or orange flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. This plant prefers well-drained soil, full sun and moderate watering.
It is often grown as an annual, is perfect for hanging baskets, containers, and ground cover.
16. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
Try a new style for your garden with String of Pearls. It is a unique cascading succulent with a trailing growth habit, reaching up to 2-3 feet in length.
It has round, bead-like leaves and small, white, cinnamon-scented flowers that bloom in summer. Living in bright, indirect light, it prefers well-drained soil and minimal watering.
This evergreen perennial is ideal for hanging baskets and containers.
17. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)
Golden Pothos is a versatile cascading plant with a vigorous trailing growth habit, reaching up to 10 feet or more in length.
It has heart-shaped, green leaves marbled with golden-yellow. While it rarely flowers indoors, it thrives in low to bright indirect light and prefers well-drained soil.
This evergreen perennial is perfect for hanging baskets, containers, and indoor trellises.
18. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra Terminalis)
Japanese Spurge will make your garden unique. It is an exotic cascading plant, reaching 6-12 inches in height and spreading up to 2 feet.
It features glossy, dark green leaves and small, white flowers that bloom in early spring. This plant prefers moist soil, partial to full shade and minimal maintenance.
You can plant Japanese spurge in elevated containers or atop retaining walls, allowing its dense foliage to spill elegantly over the edges.
19. Irish Moss (Sagina Subulata)
Irish Moss is a mat-forming plant, reaching 1-2 inches in height and spreading up to 12 inches.
It shows tiny, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer.
Growing in full sun to partial shade, it prefers well-drained, moist soil. This evergreen perennial is perfect for ground cover, stepping stones, and rock gardens.
20. Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas)
It’s invaluable to own an Ornamental Sweet Potato in the garden. You not only make delicious meals from its tubers but also beautify the outdoor space.
It has a trailing growth habit, reaching 6-12 inches in height and spreading 3-6 feet. It features heart-shaped leaves in vibrant shades of green, purple, or bronze, and trumpet-shaped flowers.
Blooming in summer, it thrives in full sun to partial shade, preferring well-drained soil and regular watering. This perennialis ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and ground cover.
Your garden will become more gorgeous when owning some types of these plants. Try to add some to your garden and wait for surprising results.
