Are you thinking of planting up your own Vertical Succulent Garden?
What are the best succulents to choose that will keep on blooming right through the summer season and into fall?
These 25 adorable Trailing and Hanging succulents and cactus are going to be the masterpiece of your next project Are Also Pretty Easy to Care For.
Their long trailing stems can grow up to 8 feet tall, depending on the plant’s variety.
Such plants are perfect for succulent lovers like you who would like to maximize their growing space by making use of hanging baskets.
Hanging succulents are becoming more and more popular because of how aesthetically pleasing they are.
Succulents are also easy to maintain, and so growing these could be great for beginners and even gardening experts.
Further, you will find that hanging and trailing succulents are usually part of every succulent subscription box program.
While there could be hundreds of succulent varieties are out there, I’ll let you know a few different types of succulents that you can place in your hanging containers.
If you want to know how you can take care of them, then make sure that you read this post until the end.
I’ll also give you a few tips on caring for them!
Table of Contents
- 1 25 Hanging Succulents and Cacti That’ll Make Your Home Look Amazing
- 1.1 1. Burro’s Tail “Sedum Burrito“
- 1.2 2. Climbing Aloes (Aloiampelos)
- 1.3 3. Trailing Jade (Senecio Jacobsenii)
- 1.4 4. Variegated Trailing Jade (Crassula Sarmentosa ‘Comet’)
- 1.5 5. String of Buttons (Crassula Perforata)
- 1.6 6. The Hindu Rope (Hoya Compacta)
- 1.7 7. Ruby Necklace (Othonna Capensis)
- 1.8 8. Wax Plant (Hoya Carnosa)
- 1.9 9. Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis Chamaecereus)
- 1.10 10. String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodii)
- 1.11 11. Donkey’s Tail (Sedum Morganianum)
- 1.12 12. String of Pearls (Curio Herreanus)
- 1.13 13. String of Nickels (Dischidia Nummularia)
- 1.14 14. String of Bananas (Senecio Radicans)
- 1.15 15. Calico Kitten (Crassula Pellucida)
- 1.16 16. Lantern Flower (Ceropegia Haygarthii)
- 1.17 17. Rat Tail Cactus (Disocactus Flagelliformis)
- 1.18 18. Monkey’s Tail (Cleistocactus Winteri subsp. colademononis)
- 1.19 19. Little Missy (Sedum ‘Little Missy’)
- 1.20 20. October Daphne (Hylotelephium Sieboldii)
- 1.21 21. Mezoo Trailing Red (Dorotheanthus Bellidiformis)
- 2 Caring for Hanging Succulents
- 3 Avoiding Too Many Falling Leaves When Repotting
25 Hanging Succulents and Cacti That’ll Make Your Home Look Amazing
1. Burro’s Tail “Sedum Burrito“
The Sedum Burrito is a succulent native to southern Mexico and known to grow up 3.3 feet.
It has short and fleshy blue-green leaves.
This is often confused with Sedum Morganianum, as both are related.
However, Sedum Burrito is shorter and has thicker leaves.
This can produce flowers during the summer, and these flowers are usually pink or red.
Like most succulents, this plant thrives well on cactus mixes or well-draining soil.
It’s a drought-tolerant plant, so it will also do well under heat.
This can also thrive indoors and can grow well even if it’s mixed with other succulents in one container.
If you are interested, check out our post on other types of sedum succulents:
2. Climbing Aloes (Aloiampelos)
Formerly known as Aloe ser, the Climbing Aloes is one of the 7 aloe species that are native to southern Africa.
It has multiple shrubs that can grow up to 12 feet long, and that it’s why it’s best to have this placed in a hanging container.
The climbing aloe has dark green leaves that are sharpened at the edge. Its leaves also seem to have small white teeth.
These teeth are also seen spiraling on their stems. Its flowers are tubular and drooping. Its color is reddish-orange or a bit rosy-mauve.
The climbing aloe likes to be planted under the full sun and in warm areas. It’s highly drought-tolerant.
Its leaves can be toxic to humans and animals so be sure to keep it away from children and pets. Have this hung where it’s not within immediate reach.
3. Trailing Jade (Senecio Jacobsenii)
Also known as the Vining and Weeping Jade Plant, the Senecio jacobsenii is a succulent that can grow up to 4 feet long.
This plant is native to the rainforests of South America.
It has green and fleshy leaves that grow up to three feet in height. Its leaves are egg-shaped and overlap each other.
During winter, this plant appears to be purple in color. It is also during winter and fall that its bright orange flowers bloom.
The Trailing Jade thrives on moisture and shaded sun.
This means that you can place it near your windowsills and even thrive well in greenhouses.
4. Variegated Trailing Jade (Crassula Sarmentosa ‘Comet’)
It has a garden origin and can be easily confused with the Trailing Jade plant or Senecio jacobsenii.
The variegated trailing jade is very different in appearance mainly because of its leaves and its colors.
This plant has leaves that are light green in color with yellowish margins. The edges of its leaves are spikey in appearance and are pointed towards the end.
It has reddish stems that could grow up to three feet long. Its flowers bloom in late fall and are pink to white in color.
5. String of Buttons (Crassula Perforata)
The String of buttons is a succulent that is native to South Arica, particularly in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
It’s a sprawling succulent shrub that can grow up to 18 inches tall. Its leaves are light green in color with reddish or copper-colored tips.
The leaves of this plant appear stacked atop each other and also appear fleshy. It thrives well under the full sun and works great with ha hanging containers. This is heat and drought-tolerant, and there’s no need to water this plant every day.
When its flowers bloom, they appear as small and pale yellow in color. Its flowers are like small stars that bloom during spring. When these flowers are fully bloomed, they may appear white in color.
6. The Hindu Rope (Hoya Compacta)
Also known as Hoyas, the Hindu Rope is a draping succulent vine that produces waxy flowers and leaves.
Its leaves are usually seen in different sizes and colors, but they’re often described as curly. These leaves are also fleshy and are usually dark green in color.
The flowers that this plant produce is colored pale pink with white corona and a red ring in the middle.
Its flowers are hard to miss because of their forms and numbers. The flowers appear as round balls with 30 to 50 buds each. However, these flowers only usually last for about one week.
Hoyas are fans of the tropical climate, so this means that this plant is drought-tolerant. It’s very easy to care for and you can also bring this plant indoors.
Just like most succulents, it’s best to not leave this plant in moist soil for a long time.
7. Ruby Necklace (Othonna Capensis)
The Ruby Necklace is a trailing succulent that is native to South Africa and is a member of the sunflower family.
It has fleshy elongated leaves that are similar to beans.
Its stems are brightly colored and appear to be purple or red in color. Its beans are sometimes colored green, purple, or burgundy.
It also blooms flowers that are yellow in color. These flowers look a lot like daisies with their round and elongated petals.
This plant bears flowers all year round, which makes it very appealing.
The Ruby Necklace spreads easily and even quickly during the hot season.
8. Wax Plant (Hoya Carnosa)
The Hoya carnosa is a vining succulent that is native to Eastern Asia and Australia.
This plant has branching stems that could grow up to 20 feet or more.
It has green or light-green leaves that are thick and fleshy.
When its flowers bloom, you’ll see star-shaped flowers that are borne in pendulous convex clusters.
Its flowers are typically colored white with a dark pink center.
Like most Hoyas, this is called the wax plant because of the waxy appearance of its leaves and flowers.
9. Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis Chamaecereus)
The Echinopsis chamaecereus is a branching cactus that is native to Argentina.
This cactus can grow up to six inches tall with fingerlike stems.
It only has soft spines so it doesn’t really pose any danger when it’s being held.
It is during late spring when its flowers bloom. Its flowers are usually 2 inches wide and are red in color to red-orange in color.
The reason why it got its name is because of the ridges its stems have.
These lines resemble how a peanut’s shell looks like, so that’s what makes it a peanut cactus.
10. String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodii)
The String of Hearts is an evergreen succulent that is native to Southern Africa. This is also known as Ceropegia linearis subspecies woodii.
String of hearts come in a variegated variety (called Ceropegia woodii variegeta) that has a varied pink and green leaf.
It is a trailing vine that can grow up to 4 inches tall and spreads about 13 feet.
True to its name, its leaves are shaped like hearts and are colored deep green when properly lighted.
It could turn to pale green without much exposure to the sun. It also blooms flowers that are white in color with a hint of pale magenta.
This plant is not exactly drought-tolerant, but it can only tolerate dry soil. This means that you shouldn’t water it every day, but you also shouldn’t leave it without water for a long time.
The frequency of watering this plant will depend on how often its soil completely dries up.
11. Donkey’s Tail (Sedum Morganianum)
The Donkey’s Tail is a perennial and evergreen succulent that is native to the southern regions of Mexico and Honduras.
It also looks a lot like the Sedum burrito as both are related. However, the Donkey’s tail grows longer.
The Sedum morganianum appears to have fat or fleshy leaves that are tiny. These leaves seem to be arranged or wrapped around its long stems.
This plant can grow up to 3 feet tall when properly taken care of.
It is also a flowering plant that blooms small flowers on the tip of its stems. It’s really not easy to promote its flowering, but the tip is that you should bring it outdoors.
The sun can encourage this plant to flower, as well as leaving it to rest in an area with a cool temperature.
12. String of Pearls (Curio Herreanus)
Also called the String of Beads or the rosary plant, this succulent and trailing plant can grow up to three feet tall.
It is native to the southwest of Africa and is similar to Senecio herreianus.
The only difference is that the Senecio herreianus is the name itself.
Botanists have renamed the Senecio genus of plants to a new genus name Curio.
Its leaves are round and fleshy, making it look like tiny oval-shaped beads that are attached to a string.
Its leaves are commonly colored as green to light green. It can bear flowers that are small and white in color.
13. String of Nickels (Dischidia Nummularia)
The String of Nickels is a creeping epiphyte that is often found on trees. It is native to Australia, India, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
It could grow up to two feet tall when well-cared for and up to 24 inches wide.
This plant has leaves that are greenish-yellow and thick.
The leaves also have a powdery texture and can only grow up to half an inch in diameter.
The flowers it blooms are usually white or yellowish-white in color.
Its flowers appear in groups with up to five buds in each umbel.
14. String of Bananas (Senecio Radicans)
The String of Bananas has many names and some of these are String of Pearls, Banana Vine, Necklace Plant, String of Fishhooks, Creeping Berry, and Fishhook Senecio. It is native to Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
The Senecio radicans is a vining succulent that can grow up to three feet long. It has green and pointy leaves that cascade each of its stems.
Its leaves are also fleshy in appearance with translucent sides. The leaves generally look like tiny bananas, and that’s why they got their name.
This plant is drought-tolerant, so there’s no need to water this every day.
It’s prone to root rot when it is overwatered, so avoid letting it sit on wet soil for so long. The most you can water it is during summer when its soil easily dries out.
15. Calico Kitten (Crassula Pellucida)
The Calico Kitten is a spreading succulent plant that is native to South Africa. It’s a low-growing perennial plant that can spread up to 6 inches.
This is often planted in hanging baskets and xeriscapes, and rock gardens.
Its leaves are fleshy and heart-shaped. Commonly, its leaves are colored green with yellowish edges.
Some variety of this also has pinkish or magenta-colored edges. It also bears flowers that are white in color and usually blooms in late spring or early summer.
The Calico Kitten requires plenty of sunlight to thrive well, but it doesn’t mean that it should be exposed to too much heat.
Like most succulents, you’ll also need fast-draining soil for this to avoid root rots. It’s best to look for a potting mix with sand for this.
16. Lantern Flower (Ceropegia Haygarthii)
The Lantern flower is a semi-evergreen succulent that is native to Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa.
It’s a twinning-stem succulent that can grow up to 3 meters long. It has ovate green and tiny leaves that is 3 to 6 mm in thickness.
Interestingly, this plant develops cage-like flowers that can trap small insects while feeding on its nectar.
Its flowers are only about 4 cm long with 25 mm in diameter. It mainly appears white with magenta or pinkish spots.
It is also noticeable that its flowers have expanding funnels and a short stem that has a spiky corolla on the tip.
17. Rat Tail Cactus (Disocactus Flagelliformis)
The Rat Tail Cactus is a branching cactus plant that can grow up to three feet tall. This looks like the peanut cactus, but this is longer in size.
This rat tail cactus’ needle groups are fuzzy-looking but are generally harmless. It could work well with a hanging container.
When its flowers bloom, they’re very hard to miss.
The rat tail cactus’ flowers are pink or crimson in color and look curved. Each flower can grow up to three inches tall and an inch and a half in diameter.
During its active growth period, it’s best to water this plant often.
18. Monkey’s Tail (Cleistocactus Winteri subsp. colademononis)
The Monkey’s Tail is a species of cactus that can grow up to 8.2 feet tall. It mainly got its name because of its tail-like appearance that is of a monkey’s.
It has soft hair-like spines that are harmless, and hairy stems that are cylindrical in shape.
Its color is typically light green, and each stem can grow up to 3 inches in diameter.
When its flowers bloom, they appear as bright red in color. The flowers can also grow up to 3 inches long.
The Monkey’s tail is surely hard to miss, not only because of its size but also because of its appearance.
19. Little Missy (Sedum ‘Little Missy’)
The Little Missy is an evergreen perennial succulent that is native to South Africa.
It is a mat-forming succulent that can grow up to two inches tall. It is bushy in appearance, which makes it look nice on hanging containers.
Its leaves are rosette-forming and are typically gray-green in color.
Sometimes, its leaves are also flushed with pink and pale green colors. It mainly has short stems, but it could grow widely in a container.
It blooms pink and white flowers during the summer.
20. October Daphne (Hylotelephium Sieboldii)
The October Daphne is a spreading succulent that can grow up to 4 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
It is native to Japan and is ideal for a low-water garden. It produces horizontal branches stemming from its central crown.
This plant has leaves that are blue-green in color. These leaves are round-shaped and a bit fleshy.
However, it looks flat at first glance. It blossoms in attractive bright pink flowers that are star-shaped.
It’s hard to miss the flowers this plant blooms because they come in round clusters.
21. Mezoo Trailing Red (Dorotheanthus Bellidiformis)
Native to South Africa’s Cape provinces, the Mezoo Trailing Red is a trailing succulent that can grow up to 8 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
This is mostly referred to as the Mezoo and is popularly seen on hanging containers and window baskets.
The Mezoo has green leaves with white edges. Its leaves are a bit fleshy and waxy in appearance.
The leaves are also heart-shaped and it’s why it’s also known as the Heart Leaf Ice Plant. When it comes to its flowers, it’s also hard to miss.
The Mezoo’s flowers are dime-sized and are colored pink or magenta. These flowers usually bloom in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
This plant is drought-tolerant and can be taken indoors. It’s generally non-toxic and thrives well on cactus mixes.
Caring for Hanging Succulents
Succulents are generally easy to take care of.
Beginners are more likely drawn to taking care of succulents first before other types of plants.
Even non-growers easily resort to getting succulents too as they are aesthetically pleasing.
Since all of these plants on our list are succulents, the general rule really is to avoid overwatering these plants.
Almost all succulents are prone to root rot because of overwatering.
Always go for potting mixes that allow smooth drainage.
The easiest way to do this is to pick a cactus or succulent potting mix.
The general rule for watering succulents is to wait for their soil to dry out before watering them again.
Always choose containers with drainage holes, and if your soil doesn’t seem to drain the water well, you can always add sand, perlites, or moss in your soil mix.
Fertilizing is done best every three weeks during the plant’s active growth or during the summer.
Don’t overdo this as it could also kill your plants.
When it comes to sunlight or light exposure, make sure that they get at least 4 to 6 hours of light a day.
Or you can try to grow succulent varieties that do well in low light conditions.
Avoiding Too Many Falling Leaves When Repotting
For hanging plants, however, it could be a bit challenging to maintain.
This is especially if you’re trying to rearrange or redirect the growth of these plants, and if it’s due for repotting.
The main problem you could be facing is how its leaves will keep on falling off when touched.
I do encounter this dilemma with most hanging plants with fleshy leaves as they are the most susceptible to have this problem.
However, if you’re careful enough, this can still be avoided. A good technique I use is to cover up the plant’s leaves when working with it.
You can wrap the leaves with a cloth or plastic carefully before moving it out of the plant.
There will still be a few leaves that will fall off, but it’s guaranteed that you won’t be losing as many leaves compared to not having them covered.
The key here is to just really be careful and gentle when holding the plant itself.
It could be extra challenging if your soil is extremely dry, so remember to moisten the soil a bit before working on your plants.
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.