Hanging Basket Plants: Sun vs Shade
Count the hours of direct sun first. Then pick the plants that suit them.
Hanging basket plants for sun vs shade start with one measurement: how many hours of direct sun the spot gets. NC State defines full sun as 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade as 2 to 6 hours, and deep shade as less than 2 hours.
A covered porch facing north and a balcony facing south need completely different baskets. Every plant below is an annual or tender plant in Canada, planted out after the last frost.
Hanging baskets at a glance: Full sun (6+ hours): verbena, lantana, scaevola, sweet potato vine. Partial shade (2–6 hours): fuchsia, tuberous begonia, torenia, lobelia, coleus. Deep shade (under 2 hours): fuchsia, impatiens, torenia, coleus. Hang them out after your last frost.
Shade porch? See Growing Fuchsia in Canada for the most popular shade basket plant.
Sun and Shade Table
| Plant | Full sun | Partial shade | Deep shade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuchsia | — | Yes | Yes |
| Tuberous begonia | — | Yes | Dappled only |
| Garden impatiens | — | Yes | Yes |
| New Guinea impatiens | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Torenia | — | Yes | Yes |
| Coleus | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lobelia | Yes | Yes | — |
| Scaevola | Yes | Yes | — |
| Sweet potato vine | Yes | Yes | — |
| Verbena | Yes | — | — |
| Lantana | Yes | — | — |
Light tolerances as listed in NC State’s Plant Toolbox. A dash means NC State does not list that light level for the plant.
Count Your Hours
Watch the spot on a clear day in early summer and note when direct sun reaches the basket and when it leaves. An overhang can make a south-facing porch shadier than it looks, and a bright sky with no direct sun still counts as shade for these purposes.
After the Last Frost
All of these are tender in Canada; NC State rates fuchsia, impatiens, coleus, lobelia and scaevola hardy only in US Zones 10 and 11. Hang baskets out after your last frost date, and bring them in if a late frost is forecast.
Keeping Baskets Going
Baskets dry out faster than beds, especially in sun and wind, so check them daily in hot weather. For shade baskets, see fuchsia, tuberous begonias and impatiens, which covers the downy mildew that affects garden impatiens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hanging basket plants do well in full shade?
From NC State's list: fuchsia, garden and New Guinea impatiens, torenia and coleus tolerate deep shade, meaning less than 2 hours of direct sun.
What hanging basket plants need full sun?
Verbena and lantana are listed by NC State for full sun only.
What counts as full sun for a basket?
NC State defines full sun as 6 or more hours of direct sun a day.
When can I put hanging baskets outside in Canada?
After your last spring frost. These plants are tender and do not survive frost.
Where should I hang a fuchsia basket?
In partial or deep shade. NC State does not list fuchsia for full sun.
Can I mix sun and shade plants in one basket?
Choose plants that share a light level, such as coleus and torenia for shade, so one is not struggling while the other thrives.
Sources
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — plant pages for fuchsia, torenia, coleus, lobelia, scaevola, sweet potato vine, verbena and lantana
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Begonia (tuberous types)
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Impatiens walleriana
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea impatiens)