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25 Flowering Trailing Plants That’ll Brighten Your Day

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Flowering trailing plants can make your heart happy! The best love stories start with flowers – and most occasions improve dramatically with flowers! We use flowering plants around our homes and gardens to add beauty and color to the space of our homesteads.

But what about flowering trailing plants and flowers?

Trailing flowering plants are ideal for small or large spaces. They can be planted in various containers and pots or directly into the ground wherever you need them.

Lovely yellow alyssum flower trailing along a small rock garden.

The beauty of trailing plants is that they don’t need much attention, and if you choose the right plant for your space, they can improve your mood and brighten your day with their beauty and presence!

If you’re not sure which trailing plants might work for you, then you’re in the right spot. We’ve compiled a massive list of the best flowering trailing plants – and we’re about to begin our countdown.

Ready? Let’s begin!

# 1 – Alyssum Plant (Lobularia Maritima)

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The Lobularia maritima is a beautiful trailing plant that grows low to the ground and is sometimes called Sweet Alison or Alyssum. If you look closely, you can find multiple varieties of Lobularia ranging in color from purple, pink, to white.

Alyssum plants are an explosion of color in your containers or garden beds. Fully grown, they reach a height of 3 to 9 inches (7 to 22cm), earning the common name dwarfed mounding shrubs.

With their low-growing foliage and small lavender, violet, white, or fuchsia four-petal flowers, Alyssum adds warmth and happiness to any garden! 

Alyssum plants thrive in cooler temperatures. They will happily grow throughout the fall and winter, are frost tolerant, and are very easy to grow from seeds. These plants grow well in Zones 5 – 9.

Here’s where to buy Alyssum

# 2 – Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila Menziesii)

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Baby Blue Eyes reminds me of a glow-in-the-dark hue out of a dream. Baby Blue Eyes also sport one of the deepest (and most majestic) shades of blue of any trailing plant. Talk about bonus points!

A popular trailing annual plant, easily recognizable by the cluster of bowl-shaped white flowers at the top of each branch, sporting a violet spot at the tip of each petal.

A charming wildflower that attracts pollinating insects will flower from mid-spring to mid-summer but does not tolerate hot, humid weather.

Each plant grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30cm) tall and will self-pollinate. Ideal for hanging baskets, borders, and containers. Plant in Zones 3 – 10.

Here’s where to buy Baby Blue Eyes

# 3 – Bacopa Flowers (Sutera Cordata)

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Here’s a lovely trailing plant that’s known for its milky-white blooms and widespread groundcover. Look closely at the yellowish pistils and imagine how they could complement your garden, walkway, or terrace.

A creeping evergreen plant, producing small, five-petaled white, pink, or purple flowers with golden centers. Prolific growers, the flowers cover the foliage of tiny leaves and pour over the edges of containers or hanging baskets.

They thrive in full sun but need well-drained soil. Monitor closely and water often to ensure blooming for a long season. Bacopa plants grow 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15cm) tall and have a spread of 12.0 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm).

Plant in growing Zones 8b to 11. Full flowers from late Spring to the first frost.

Here’s where to buy Bacopa flowers

# 4 – Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia Alata)

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Wow! Orange is one of my favorite colors, making Black-Eyed Susan one of my top choice trailing plants. The gentle orange pastel of the Black-Eyed Susan clashes wonderfully with the darkened pistils and stigma. 

A flowering vine commonly found tumbling from hanging baskets. Heart-shaped green leaves growing opposite each other on the vine complement the lovely five daisy-like, sunset-colored petals with a brown tube center.

An extremely fast-growing perennial, this plant can reach heights of 3 to 8 feet (7 to 20cm), with a width of 3 to 6 feet (7 to 15cm).

Plant in the Spring in full sun in growing Zones 10 or 11.

Here’s where to buy Black-Eyed Susan

# 5 – Bidens (Bidens Ferulifolia)

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The beautiful Bidens ferulifolia is one of the most appealing flowering trailing plants. While a beauty to behold, the Bidens ferulifolia is also hardy and handles winds and drought relatively well.

A member of the Astra family, these small daisy-like flowers are happy to drape over the sides of your container. These Cosmos-like hardy flowers are available with yellow, orange, white, and pink blooms and are heat tolerant and draught-resistant.

Each plant will spread about 18 inches (45cm), pouring out of their container or rambling along a fence if not pruned. Sow the seeds directly into well-drained soil after the last frost and in the full sun. 

Will grow well in Zones 5 – 10.

Read More – What’s the USDA Hardiness Zone Map? How Does it Work?

# 6 – Million Bells (Calibrachoa)

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Want an explosive bloom with vibrant coloring potential that won’t quit? Then feast your eyes on Calibrachoa! One of the easiest trailing plants for outdoor containers. Easy to manage – and the beautiful presentation rewards you tenfold.

They are grown everywhere as an annual plant in hanging baskets and containers of any size and shape. A beautiful bloomer, the flower resembles tiny petunias in a kaleidoscope of colors in stripes, two tones, and solids.

Extremely fast-growing plants, they will quickly spill over any container in their quest to touch the floor!

If you are a hummingbird and butterfly lover, the stunning blooms of this plant will attract them to your garden! Each plant will grow from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30cm) tall and 12 to 24 inches (12 to 76cm) wide.

Plant in containers in the early Spring in Zones 9 to 11.

Here’s where to buy Calibrachoa

# 7 – Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea Anomala)

Climbing-Hydrangea-Hydrangea-anomala
Whether perched alongside your favorite garden terrace or climbing and stretching along the rocky forest floor – nothing tickles the fancy of your favorite homesteading hobbyist like the sumptuous climbing hydrangea!

A large vigorous climber with masses of tiny white fragrant flowers held in clusters of up to 8 inches (20cm) wide. This plant will grow year-round, adding a wonderful splash of color to the winter landscape with its reddish-brown trunk.

A slow grower, each plant will grow to a height of 30 to 40 feet (76 to 101cm) tall when planted in part to full shade. Perfect for clambering along walls, fences, and tree trunks but will need to be trimmed regularly.

Will grow very well in Zones 4 – 9.

Here’s where to buy Climbing Hydrangea

# 8 – Climbing Rose

Climbing-rose-flowering-trailing-plants
I find that climbing roses, contrary to their name, aren’t the best trailing plants – they don’t climb very well. However, they still look wondrous and can immediately enhance the luminosity and color of nearly any garden or backyard setting.

Climbing roses are available in a variety of colors, from bright white to brilliant red.

Each plant produces an abundance of tea roses containing different shaped buds and petals. Some have double rounded flowers of up to 40 petals, while others create a flush of blooms producing 43 petals or more.

Climbing roses will bloom during the late Spring or early Summer. As climbers, they spread over an area of 6 – 10 ft (180 to 300cm).

Plant close to your home as they have a wonderful scent which you will want to breathe in each day! Great to grow along walls and fences.

Plant in Zones 5 – 9.

Here’s where to buy Climbing Roses

# 9 – Cosmos Bipinnatus

Here’s a well-known daisy relative and one of the perkiest trailing plants on this entire list. The bright color schemes that decorate each Cosmos bipinnatus make it a sight to behold, and their pastel blooms are some of the best to see!

A hardy annual plant, perfect for sunny beds and containers. A beautiful addition to your garden, the crimson to burgundy flowers seem to float above the wispy foliage! Cosmos plants grow to a height of 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60cm) tall and prefer full sun.

Cosmos plants will attract butterflies to your garden and are easy to grow. Plant in Zones 2 – 11.

Here’s where to buy Cosmos

Did you know?

The USDA just launched its brand new interactive Plant Hardiness Zone Map! Now there’s no more second-guessing as to your hardiness zone – instead, you can type in your zip code and get up-to-date data.

Check out the hidden features within the map like the Basemap Gallery, which unlocks additional context and data, terrain labels, and topographic sheets that homesteaders and gardening geeks might enjoy.


# 10 – Creeping Snapdragon (Asarina Procumbens)

creeping-snapdragon asarina-procumbens
Here’s a fun trailing plant with a unique trumpet shape that will make you look twice. You’ll notice that the flowers are brightly colored and range from orange, pink, red, and lavender.

The trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of lavender, pink, blue, and white on this delicate vine plant droop downwards on the vine giving this plant a fragile olde worlde look! 

Don’t be deceived, though, as the Snapdragon, although a slow starter, will cover a trellis within four months when grown from seeds planted in the Spring! 

This perennial vine will spread 3 to 6 feet (7 to 15cm) wide if planted in the full sun in Zones 9 to 10.

Here’s where to buy Creeping Snapdragon

Read More – Here’s How To Propagate Potato Plant Cuttings

# 11 – Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum)

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If you want a trailing plant that’s one of the easiest to grow on this list – and if you have a profound adoration for intense shades of purple, then Creeping Thyme might be the garden addition of your dreams.

A member of the mint family, Creeping Thyme is a cold-hardy perennial ornamental herb. Their vine-like growth is ideal for containers and is often used as a trailing ground cover plant to fill up space in beds.

They have silver-green leaves with beautiful, aromatic purple flowers. As an added benefit for any gardener, Creeping Thyme is a medicinal herb! The flowers can be brewed into a relaxing tea that has anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Plant in the full sun in Zones 4 – 9.

Here’s where to buy Creeping Thyme

# 12 – Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia Procumbens)

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Creeping Zinnia is a lovely sunflower lookalike! Creeping Zinnia will reward your interest in trailing plants with an epic orange and yellow bloom that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

The ideal plant for growing as a groundcover or in containers.

The small yellow blooms make an extravagant appearance once a year, while the delicate green foliage requires full sun and sufficient water to grow up to 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15cm) tall and 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45cm) wide.

An easy plant to grow in warm temperatures in Zones 5 to 9.

Here’s where to buy Creeping Zinnia

# 13 – Cup and Saucer Vine (Cobaea)

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Cup and Saucer Vines are one of the best-looking trailing plants – and I love their delicate, tapered stem and vivid purple-to-white complexion. They also have many nicknames, such as Cobaea, Mexican Ivy, or Cathedral Bells.

A classic cup-shaped bloom in pastel pinks, white, violet, and indigo, this graceful vine is perfect for growing along a trellis intertwined with other trailing plants. A rapid grower, it can grow to heights of 10 to 20 feet (25 to 50cm) with a width of 3.0 to 6 feet (7 to 15cm).

The flowers are slow blooming but, once fully opened, have a delightful floral-honey fragrance. Sow directly from seeds in Spring after the frost. You may have to pinch off the stems to control the growth of this plant, or it will take over the space!

Grow in full sun in Zones 9 to 11.

Where to buy Cup and Saucer Vine

# 14 – Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

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These trailing shrubs offer one of the most gratifying scents you’ll ever find among flowering trailing plants! However, I must warn you that you should manage your honeysuckle – or they can take over your yard and outcompete even your native plants!

The honeysuckle family produces a variety of climbing plants with masses of different colored tubular flowers. Lovely landscape plants they will grow well on a trellis, fences, or a pergola.

They grow well in partial shade and can spread up to 20 to 30 ft (600 to 900cm). Low maintenance plants, they do require some pruning after flowering. Plant next to your veggie patch as they will attract pollinators to your garden!

Plant in Zones 5 – 9.

Here’s where to buy Honeysuckle plants and seeds

# 15 – Ivy Geranium (Pelargonium Peltatum)

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If you spend too many days indoors and don’t get to enjoy nature much – then Pelargonium peltatum is your new best friend. I can’t think of any other trailing plant that hits you with as much colorful impact as this mesmerizing perennial!

Geraniums are well known as the classic container plant!

The trailing Ivy Geranium has clusters of beautiful tiny white, pink, red, or lilac flowers which will start blooming in mid-spring until the first frost. The plant can be dead-headed to encourage further blooms.

They thrive in warm temperatures but can be overwintered if covered heavily. They will reach a height of 5 to 36 inches (5 -36cm) depending on the variety.

Plant in Zones 9 – 12.

Here’s where to buy Ivy Geranium

# 16 – Licorice Plant (Helichrysum Petiolare) 

The Licorice Plant is maybe not the most impressive flowering trailing plant, but it thrives in full sun and it’d drought tolerant. For the licorice lovers among us – this trailing plant does smell faintly like licorice!

An unassuming plant used for its unusual foliage in hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers. The silvery-grey leaves on this evergreen shrub contrast nicely with the tiny white flowers.

Technically a vine plant, the Licorice plant loves to cascade over the sides of its container or the edging in your flower garden. 

The Licorice plant thrives in full sun and is drought tolerant. It will grow up to 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60cm) tall and spread 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120cm). As a bonus feature, the Licorice plant does have a faint licorice fragrance! 

This tropical perennial plant will grow in Zones 9 – 11.

Read More – Here’s How to Prune Your Mint Plant Correctly!

# 17 – Lobelia (Lobelia Erinus)

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Look away if your eyes are sensitive to bright colors because the Lobelia erinus rip roars with abundant shades of blue that I wasn’t sure existed before finding this beautiful flowering trailing plant.

The Lobelia is partial to cool springs and shaded summers but will grow well in full sun with lots of water. This trailing shrub will reach heights of 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15cm) with a spread of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20cm) of beautiful tubular blue blooms.

Easy to grow from seeds, ideal for growing in window boxes and rock gardens. Plant in Zones 10 to 11.

Here’s where to buy Lobelia

# 18 – Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus Roseus)

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Want a trailing plant that comes in multiple tones? Catharanthus roseus, also known as Bright Eyes or Old Maid, is a long-flowering trailing plant known for many blooming colors that can light up any garden walkway.

Often used as a flowering ground cover, this plant is perfect for trailing over the sides of any container!

A beautiful annual plant bearing a single bloom with five petals in various shades of pink, rose, and lilac, these showy flowers are attractive to butterflies, so plant them all over your garden!

This is a hot weather plant best grown in full sun. Easy to grow from seeds, they do take time to flower, but they are worth the wait.

Each plant grows to a spread of 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45cm). Will grow well in Zones 9 to 11.

Here’s where to buy Madascar Periwinkle

# 19 – Moonflower (Ipomoea Alba)

moonflower-ipomoea-alba
A lot of people stress out about their Moonflower blooms. Remember that the Moonflower is a photoperiod plant – meaning that it enjoys flowering as the days shorten. Food for thought!

Part of the Morning Glory family, the Moonflower has a pure white flower that opens every evening and only closes when the sun rises the next morning! What a beautiful, exotic addition to your hanging basket or garden fence!

Each flower bud pops open to reveal a pale green star across the middle of the flower. A sweet fragrance on the night air reminds you that this gorgeous flower has opened up! 

This plant thrives in full sun and flowers from midsummer to fall and will grow well in Zones 10 – 12.

# 20 – Morning Glory (Ipomoea Indica)

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While Morning Glory plants sport some of the most breathtaking arrays of purple and violet hues in the world of trailing plants – they can also get aggressive and invasive if not managed. New gardeners – take notice!

The Morning Glory has earned its name by producing attractive trumpet-shaped flowers which open bright blue each morning and fade to a pinkish purple by late afternoon before closing. New flowers are produced daily, and each flower will bloom profusely between late Spring and Fall.

Perfect climbers, they are great for fences, walls, containers, and hanging baskets. Fast-growing vine plants, they can spread over an area of 4 to 15 ft (120 to 450cm) during each season!

morning-glory-ipomoea-indica

They do attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. Plant in full sun in Zones 9 – 11.

Did you know?

You can also download high-resolution printable copies of the Plant Hardiness Zone Map if you want to get a better idea of which plants to grow in your local area. If you’re not sure about your growing zone – this is the best resource to browse!

You can access ultra high-def (300 dpi) printable map copies in PDF format. Or, if you want to get fancy, you can also snag Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator copies of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map – among other file formats.


# 21 – Nasturtium (Tropaeolum Majus)

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Here’s your best chance for a trailing plant with (nearly) every shade of orange known to horticultural science. Look closely and notice the succulent stems, long stalks, and hint of deep reds and yellow during bloom.

This very easy-to-grow, low maintenance, annual plant is a vigorous grower, growing 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50cm). The dwarf type is excellent for beds, borders, edgings, and ground covers, while the climbing type will spread out over fences, banks, hanging baskets, and tree stumps, giving your garden a cottage effect!

This versatile plant grows best in full sun with well-drained soils. Each flower is beautiful. Funnel-shaped, they range in color from creamy white to red, yellow, mahogany, and orange. The foliage is just as impressive with rounded parasol-like leaves! 

Prolific flowers from early summer until frost, Zones 9 – 11.

Read More – Can You Eat Potato Leaves?

# 22 – Star Jasmine Vine Plant (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)

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Here’s a flowering trailing plant that makes for the perfect garden companion, climbing vine – or ornamental plant. The Star Jasmine Vine Plant also emits a heavenly fragrance sought after by homesteaders and gardeners worldwide.

An evergreen vine with glossy, oval dark green leaves and twining stems. The star-shaped white flowers appear in late Spring and turn cream with age. Primarily used as a climbing vine, this plant can grow up to 2 ft (60cm) tall when grown in a container and up to 10 to 20ft (300 to 600cm) high when climbing up a structure!

Thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. Plant in Zones 8 – 10.

# 23 – Sweet Pea (Lathyrus Odoratus)

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Lathyrus Odoratus is a trailing plant with a delightful scent, varying color schemes, and a long history of cultivation. However – aphids have a reputation for loving Sweet Pea. So, stay on your toes!

An enchanting, sweet-blossomed, climbing annual, perfect for borders and containers or for climbing over arches. Sweet peas grow well in cool temperatures, blooming profusely from Spring to Fall. Each stem holds three flowers adorned with sparkling red flakes on white petals. The more you pick the flowers, the more they will grow!

These sweet-smelling flowers grow to a height of 6 ft (180cm) tall and a width of 12 in (30cm). Plant in Zones 2 -11, and don’t overwater!

# 24 – Verbena (Verbena Peruviana)

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Want a trailing plant that works as hard as you? Verbena has a reputation for toughness for beating the heat, wind, and drought. The showy hues also look beautiful and boast shades of red that all gardeners will love.

A prolific, constant bloomer, well suited to containers or as low trailers in beds. An annual plant, planted in Spring after the frost, requires 8 to ten hours of sun daily.

Fast-growing white, purple, pink, peach, and red flowers with dark green leaves, these plants require very little care. Depending on the variety, Verbena plants can grow up to 12 inches (30cm) tall and reach their full size within a few weeks.

Verbena plants will grow well in Zones 9 to 11.

# 25 – Wave Petunia (Petunia x Hybrida)

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Who else wants a nightshade that’s also a commendable trailing plant? The Wave Petunia makes all of the hard work you put into your lawn and garden worth the effort!

Very easy to grow, fabulous Wave petunias flower all season long. Perfect for bed edging, the single or ruffled blooms are just as perfect when cascading over the sides of hanging baskets! The Petunia family offers a variety of wavy-edged flowers in a multitude of colors from buttery yellow to pastel pink, striped, veined, or solid colors.

Petunias are weather tolerant and, when planted in sunny areas, will provide splashes of color in your garden! They will cover an area of 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35cm), making them an excellent plant to intermingle or grow on their own.

Plant seeds before the first frost in Zones 6 to 11. Do not overwater.

Read More – Which Leaves Are Safe to Eat? Edible Leaves Part 2!

Flowering Trailing Plants – Which is Your Favorite?

We just brainstormed our favorite list of trailing plant options ideal for whether you’re new to the world of homesteading or if you’re a green-thumbed guru!

Let us know which trailing plants are your favorite? 

I love the orange pastel of the Black-Eyed Susan a lot, but choosing a favorite is too tricky. Each flower has its charms.

What about you? 

Which one do you like the best?

Please reply and let us know!

Thanks so much for reading!

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