types of hanging cactus plants

Types of Hanging Cactus PlantsHanging cactus plants are a fun and unique way to decorate your home or garden Their trailing stems and colorful flowers cascading out of baskets or pots add visual interest and texture Many different cactus varieties work well as hangers, displaying their gorgeous shapes and textures in a new dimension.

Here are some of the most popular types of hanging cactus plants to consider

Rat Tail Cactus

Aporocactus flagelliformis, also known as the “rat tail cactus,” gets its name from the long, thin, trailing stems that are covered in tiny spines. Rat tail cactus comes from Mexico and can get up to 3 feet long. It has lovely hot pink or red flowers that make it stand out in hanging planters, where the flowers and textured stems can be the star of the show.

Fishbone Cactus

Fishbone cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) has arching, flattened, zig-zag shaped stems that can grow several feet long. Also called zigzag cactus or rickrack cactus, its jungle vine appearance lends well to cascading from hanging baskets. Fishbone cactus produces large, gorgeous white and yellow flowers.

String of Pearls

String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), a popular houseplant, gets its name from the round, pea-shaped leaves that grow on its trailing stems. Because the lime green beads fall over the sides of planters, it is often used for hanging baskets. String of pearls is a plant that comes from South Africa. It can grow up to 3 feet long indoors and make cute puffball flowers.

Burro’s Tail

Closely related to the donkey’s tail, burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) has blue-green leaves tightly packed on trailing stems up to 3 feet long. Also called lamb’s tail, its thick stems and plump leaves look like braided tails swishing out of hanging baskets. Pink flowers top the ends of the stems.

Queen of the Night

Queen of the night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is a gorgeous epiphytic orchid cactus with long, flattened stems that produce fragrant white flowers that bloom at night. Its vines can reach up to 10 feet long, displaying the drama of its huge blossoms perfectly when suspended from hanging planters.

Monkey Tail

Aptly named, monkey tail (Cleistocactus winteri) initially grows upright but its light green, hairy stems can reach up to 8 feet long as they mature and trail downward. Covered in soft white spines when mature, its furry, unruly appearance lives up to its common name.

Hens and Chicks

Native to Europe, hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) produces mats of rosettes that send out small plantlets on short stolons to form lush, spreading carpets. Their rosettes spill pleasingly over planter edges. Hens and chicks come in a variety of colors like red, pink, purple, and green with interesting leaf textures.

Silver Dollar Vine

In nature, silver dollar vine (Xerosicyos danguyi) uses trees for support, but its long, trailing round succulent leaves work beautifully spilling out of hanging baskets. Tough and easy to grow, this interesting succulent vine native to Madagascar can grow 10-15 feet long in ideal conditions.

String of Bananas

String of bananas (Senecio radicans), one of the most popular trailing succulents, has leaves that curve like the fruit that gives it its name. It can grow up to 3 feet long. It comes from South Africa, and the lime green banana beads that hang from planters make a big statement. It produces tiny flowers that smell like cinnamon.

Rattail Cactus

Rattail cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis) is similar to rat tail cactus but has red flowers and only grows to 5 feet long. Its red blooms and long, slender trailing stems work beautifully in hanging planters. Rattail cactus needs full sun to flower properly.

Medusa Head

Even though Euphorbia caput-medusae doesn’t have real snakes for hair, its thick, segmented stems that look like tentacles make it look like it could turn you into stone. It can grow up to 2 feet tall. 5 feet long, and its wavy stems look great in hanging planters. Be aware its sap can irritate skin.

Peanut Cactus

Native to Argentina, peanut cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus) has short, trailing clumps of stems covered in soft spines resembling peanuts. Growing just 6-10 inches long, its fuzzy finger-like stems pair perfectly with other trailing succulents in mixed hanging planters. Peanut cactus produces showy red-orange flowers.

Lantern Flower

Grown for its otherworldly flowers, lantern flower (Ceropegia haygarthii) has long, vining succulent stems that can suspend its fascinating blooms, which resemble hanging lanterns, in midair when grown in hanging planters. Though beautiful, its flowers emit a foul fragrance when in bloom to attract pollinators.

There are so many types of gorgeous, trailing cacti that are perfect for displaying in hanging pots and planters on porches, patios, over doorways, from ceilings, or indoors by bright windows. Mix and match shapes, textures, and colors for beautiful, cascading cactus gardens in a range of hanging planters.