Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Megan Bame

When grown in a hanging basket, Bolivian Jew resembles a green beehive.

It may be hard to pass up those cheery flowering hanging baskets, but there are some really neat foliage plants that have been basket favorites for years. And unlike flowering baskets (which often require deadheading or some intense ground cleanup of spent blooms), baskets overflowing with foliage are pretty low-maintenance (not to mention just pretty), and they’re great for shady areas. And we can’t forget the great colors – purple, green and variegated leaves definitely have merits of their own.

The following foliage plants are great for hanging out:

Bolivian Jew (Callisia repens): Many folks associate the look of this plant (when in a basket) with a beehive or a ball. Its tiny, compact leaves practically cover the branches as they cascade wonderfully over a hanging basket. A fast grower, the plant can add on as much as 3-4 feet in length in a single season. It’s easy to root and can be moved indoors for winter.

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Megan Bame

Dainty white flowers nicely accent the gorgeous green foliage of bridal veil.

Bridal veil (Gibasis geniculata): Okay, this isn’t just a foliage plant – but the tiny white flowers that cover it aren’t big impact blooms. They’re delicate and airy, much like a bride’s veil that lightly conceals her face. The neatest features are the leaves, which are olive green on top and purple underneath, creating a jewel tone effect as the fine-textured branches cascade over the basket. The plant thrives in indirect light (such as on a porch) through summer and can be pruned back and kept indoors through the winter. If you need to shape it up, don’t be afraid to cut back the long mass of branches. In fact, bridal veil roots easily in water or soil, so you can use those clippings to share this beauty with a friend.

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Megan Bame

The little plantlets on spider plant are easy to root for more to enjoy.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): The spider plant is just attractive and fun! The green and white variegated leaf blades spike upward and then arch over the basket, providing a lovely habit. But the real treat is when the wiry branches produce “baby spiders.” These young plantlets can enhance your hanging basket or be removed with a firm yank and rooted in a new pot. (You can usually already see the roots forming on the plantlet when it’s still attached to the mother plant.) And of course, you can hang this beauty inside and enjoy it over winter.