Types of Hanging Cactus Plants
Hanging cactus plants are a beautiful way to decorate both indoor and outdoor spaces. Their trailing stems and colorful blooms cascade elegantly over the sides of planters, bringing visual interest and a touch of nature. There are many varieties to choose from, ranging from jungle cacti with huge, showy flowers to delicate succulents with strings of bead-like leaves. Here is an overview of some of the most popular types of hanging cactus plants to help you pick the perfect one for your space.
Christmas CactusThe Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is one of the most popular hanging cacti, loved for its gorgeous flowers that bloom around the holiday season Its segmented, flattened stems hang down, with notches along the edges Flowers come in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, yellow and white depending on the variety. The plant needs bright, indirect light indoors and part to full shade outside. It prefers higher humidity and lower temperatures in fall and winter to initiate blooming.
Rat Tail Cactus: The rat tail cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis) gets its name from the very long, thin stems that trail behind it and are covered in tiny bristles. With help or a hanging basket, these vines can grow up to 6 feet long! In the spring and summer, they have tubular flowers that are bright magenta, orange, or pink. It does best in full sun or partial shade, with average watering and soil that drains well.
Burro’s Tail
With its fat teardrop shaped leaves densely stacked along trailing stems up to 3 feet long, the burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) is perfect for a hanging basket. The blue-green leaves flush red in full sun. Yellow star-shaped flowers may appear. It needs several hours of direct sun, modest watering, and very well-draining soil. Hardy in zones 10-11.
Coral Cactus
The coral cactus (Rhipsalis cereuscula) is named for its arching, jointed green stems that resemble underwater coral. Tiny white flowers may emerge. It has an epiphytic growth habit in its native jungle habitat, so does best with indirect light, high humidity and an orchid potting mix as opposed to regular cactus soil. Its graceful trailing stems work beautifully draped over a hanging basket.
Fishbone CactusThe fishbone cactus (Disocactus anguliger) has stems with raised ridges running the length, giving them a zig-zag, “fishbone” look Stems can grow several feet long over time. Large, showy white and yellow flowers bloom at night. Give this jungle cactus indirect light, high humidity, orchid mix soil and allow it to dry slightly between waterings Its lush trailing habit is perfect for a hanging container near a bright window.
Hens and Chicks
Technically a succulent, hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) form cute rosettes that produce many offsets, the “chicks” clustered around the larger “hen.” These mat-forming plants work great in planters where the chicks cascade over the container edge. Hens and chicks come in a variety of colors like red, green, purple or gray. Grow them in full sun and gritty, sandy soil. Hardy outdoors in zones 3-9.
Peanut Cactus
The peanut cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus) consists of short, cylindrical segmented stems covered in fine, white hairs, giving the appearance of peanuts stacked together. Flowers are bright red-orange. Given time, stems trail from containers up to 2 feet wide. It needs very well-draining soil and as much direct sunlight as possible to promote blooms. Protect from frost unless growing it in zones 9-11.
Queen of the Night: Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), a type of epiphyllum cactus, is loved for its big, soft flowers that open at night. It has long, arching stems that can get up to 10 feet long if they get enough space and support. Use an orchid potting mix and provide bright indirect light. Blooms are most prolific with a dry winter dormancy period. A hanging pot near a window or under a covered patio is a beautiful place for Queen of the Night to grow.
Silver Dollar Vine: The silver dollar vine, or Xerosicyos danguyi, is a rare type of melon-related succulent. It has round, fleshy, silver-green leaves about the size of old US silver dollar coins that line its stems. This gives it a cute bumpy texture. Long vines will form over time. Partial shade and infrequent watering is recommended. Put it in a hanging basket or a pot with a trellis so that its small but pretty leaves can trail all over the place.
String of Buttons
The whimsical string of buttons plant (Crassula perforata) has upright stems lined with concave, grey-green leaves stacked like buttons. Given time, the 18-24 inch stems will trailing gracefully. Small yellow or white starry flowers may emerge. Provide very bright, indirect light. Allow soil to dry between deep waterings. Its button-like foliage dangling from a hanging basket is quite playful and cute.
The most common way to show off trailing cactus plants is in a hanging basket, which lets their stems hang out a lot. But trailing cacti and succulents look great when they are just planted on the ground or put on a high shelf where they can hang down. When picking out a hanging cactus plant for your home or garden, you can go for something big and showy or something small and lacy.
Ruby Necklace Plant (Othonna capensis)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9, 10, 11
- Blooming Period: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Mature Size: 12 in. long
- Flower Color: Bright Yellow
The String of Rubies, also known as the ruby necklace, is a beautiful succulent with stems that trail off and small, ruby-red leaves that decorate them. Just like its name suggests, it looks like a string of precious rubies cascading down from a hanging planter. The vibrant red color of the leaves adds a pop of color and visual interest to any space. With its captivating appearance and low-maintenance nature, the String of Rubies is a fantastic choice for adding a touch of elegance and beauty to your hanging succulent planter. Learn more.
Our Favorite Types of Hanging Succulents
succulent plants for your space can be a big challenge since there are a lot of choices. Besides putting one plant in a pot, you can also make beautiful succulent arrangements by putting different kinds of hanging plants in a planter and letting them hang over the sides while having one main plant stand out.
Below, you will find the 24 most popular types of hanging succulent plants to cascade from a basket or planter. Further down the page, you will learn how to care for them and much more to keep them thriving.
25 Trailing & Hanging Succulent Plants
FAQ
What is the name of the hanging succulent?
The Donkey’s Tail Plant is a popular hanging succulent with long, trailing stems that are covered in plump, fleshy, and cylindrical leaves, resembling the tail of a donkey. The beautiful blue-green leaves have a slightly powdery texture, which adds to their charm.
What is the difference between a cactus and a succulent plant?
A cactus has various physical features that make it different from a succulent. Cacti are identified by their needle-like spines. They have fleshy stems that store water and are capable of performing photosynthesis. A succulent plant, on the other hand, holds water and nutrients in its fleshy leaves.
What succulent looks like a burro’s tail?
Native to Southern Mexico, this Sedum burrito plant is like a superstar hanging from your ceiling, with its mesmerizing trailing stems. While it may resemble a donkey tail plant at first glance, this gorgeous burrito sedum has shorter stems and smaller, more rounded leaves than the donkey tail succulent.
How to care for trailing succulents?
If you want to grow this succulent as a houseplant all you need is nice bright light and to be stingy with the water. Whether you grow Fishhooks Senecio indoors or out, just make sure you give it room to trail!.
What cactus hang & trail?
When mature, the hanging plants produce showy bring magenta or red blooms. This is one of the coolest succulents that you can hang or trail and grow anywhere. It has so much character and creates so much interest. Echinopsis Chamaecereus ‘Peanut Cactus’ is native to Argentina.
What are hanging cactus & trailing succulents?
Hanging cacti and trailing succulents are a fun and unexpected option for your hanging basket. The name hanging cactus tells you everything you need to know about these plants- they grow in such a way that allows you to hang them on a wall or a trellis with their branches and leaves hanging down.
What cacti & succulents can you hang in your garden?
The following are the most beautiful and popular hanging cacti and succulent plants that you can hang or trail in your garden or indoor area: #1. Even though the name of this cactus means “sticks on fire,” don’t let that scare you. Its sap is poisonous, so keep kids and pets away from it. You can easily grow them indoors or outdoors.
What is a hanging cactus?
The name hanging cactus tells you everything you need to know about these plants- they grow in such a way that allows you to hang them on a wall or a trellis with their branches and leaves hanging down. Although most of them do best indoors, some can do well outside in certain climates, and they usually have beautiful shapes.
Can a cactus grow in a hanging basket?
R. cereuscula will trail beautifully from a hanging basket. Coral cactus is an easy-care houseplant that is quite tolerant of neglect. This cactus needs a bit more soil moisture than its desert relatives – use an orchid potting medium rather than a pre-mixed medium designed for cacti.
Are hanging cactus suitable for outdoor use?
This hanging cactus loves humidity and direct sun, so it’s also suitable for outdoors. This extraordinary plant is an epiphyte and is native to tropical rainforests. It has long vines with unique half-an-inch wide leaves that are pale green and resemble coins.