Something about a trailing plant draws you in. Maybe it’s the way a long vine spills over a shelf edge, or how the stems catch the light on their way down to the floor. If you’ve been looking for the best trailing plants for indoor spaces, this list covers fifteen of them, from near-indestructible classics to slow-growing collectors’ pieces.
A trailing plant is any plant that grows by sending stems outward and downward rather than upward. Instead of reaching for the ceiling, it reaches for the floor, the wall, or whatever happens to be nearby. That growth habit makes them ideal for hanging baskets, high shelves, wardrobes, and bookshelves. They add movement to a room in a way that upright plants simply can’t.
Hilton Carter, whose work styling plant-filled interiors spans Wild at Home and Wild Interiors, has made a consistent case for trailing plants as the most spatially productive category in indoor gardening: they grow down while you live up, filling vertical space without competing for floor room.
One thing worth knowing before you start: trailing plants are among the most forgiving houseplants you can grow. A 2022 survey by the National Gardening Association found that trailing and vining houseplants were the top-selling category in indoor plants for three consecutive years, largely because beginners found them more manageable than fussier species. Light conditions, watering frequency, humidity: most trailing plants give you room to figure things out.
Here are fifteen to consider.
1. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
If you’re new to trailing plants, golden pothos is the one to start with. She trails generously, tolerates low light, and forgives inconsistent watering better than most. The heart-shaped leaves are glossy green with yellow variegation that looks different depending on the light.
She’s happy in a hanging basket or draped over a high shelf. Let the soil dry out between waterings and she’ll keep growing steadily. For more on her specific needs, the golden pothos care guide covers everything in detail.
Best for: beginners, low-light rooms, high shelves
2. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf philodendron trails in a softer, more relaxed way than pothos. The leaves are deeper green with a slight droop at the tip that makes each stem look like it’s leaning into the light. She tolerates low light but prefers something brighter. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and she’ll reward you with steady, cheerful growth.
The heartleaf philodendron care guide has a good section on reading her leaf color to diagnose what she needs.
Best for: shelves, medium-light rooms, beginners
3. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
String of pearls is unmistakable. The leaves have reduced themselves to perfect little spheres along each stem, which hang in threads from the pot. It looks architectural, slightly surreal, and completely unlike anything else on a shelf.
She needs bright light and minimal water. She stores moisture in those round leaves, so overwatering is the main risk. A bright windowsill or hanging basket near a sunny window suits her well. If your windowsills don’t get enough natural light, a grow light can make a real difference: see the grow lights for indoor plants guide for options that work well with succulents.
Best for: bright windowsills, hanging baskets, succulent collections
4. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
Delicate silver-green hearts on thin purple stems. String of hearts trails more subtly than most plants on this list, but up close she’s one of the most interesting trailing houseplants you can grow indoors.
She prefers bright indirect light and needs to dry out fully between waterings. In good conditions, she’ll produce small tubers along the stems that you can use to propagate new plants.
Best for: bright rooms, hanging near windows, small spaces
5. Tradescantia (Tradescantia zebrina)
Tradescantia grows fast and trails dramatically. The striped purple-and-silver leaves of Tradescantia zebrina are striking, and the plant has no problem filling a hanging basket in a single season.
She fades in low light, but brighter conditions keep the color vivid. Pinch back the tips occasionally to keep her full rather than sparse at the base.
Best for: color contrast, fast growth, hanging baskets in bright rooms
6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are classic for a reason. The arching green-and-white striped leaves are attractive on their own, but the real show comes when the plant sends out long runners with baby plants at the tips. Hang her up and those babies dangle in the air like ornaments.
She tolerates most light conditions and grows consistently. Hard to kill, easy to propagate, and one of the few trailing plants that produces plantlets you can pot up and give away.
Best for: beginners, kitchens, hallways
7. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Burro’s tail is one of the most satisfying succulents to grow in a hanging basket. The thick, overlapping blue-green leaves build up along each stem into something that looks almost braided.
She needs full sun and very little water. The leaves detach easily, so handle her gently, but any that fall into soil will often sprout into new plants on their own.
Best for: sunny windowsills, hanging baskets in bright rooms, succulent collections
8. String of Bananas (Senecio radicans)
Similar care to string of pearls, but with leaves shaped like small curved bananas instead of spheres. She grows faster and trails more vigorously, making her a good choice if you want that succulent trailing look on a shelf rather than a fine hanging thread.
Bright light and infrequent watering. She’s drought-tolerant and doesn’t enjoy wet soil.
Best for: bright shelves, sunny rooms, fast trailing growth
9. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy is one of the few trailing plants that actually prefers cooler temperatures. She thrives in rooms that stay on the cool side and can handle lower light than most plants on this list.
The lobed leaves come in many varieties: plain green, variegated white, or golden. She does well in hanging baskets or trailing from a shelf in a hallway or bathroom.
Best for: cool rooms, hallways, low-light spots
10. String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata)
String of turtles grows slowly, but each tiny leaf is patterned like a turtle shell in dark green and silver. She’s a collector’s plant in the best sense.
She needs moderate to bright indirect light and doesn’t like to stay wet. Her small size makes her perfect for a windowsill or the edge of a small shelf.
Best for: windowsills, collectors, small spaces
11. Marble Queen Pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’)
Everything about golden pothos applies here, with one difference: the white marbling in the leaves is more pronounced, giving her a lighter, almost frosted look. She grows a little slower because of the reduced chlorophyll in those pale areas.
She needs slightly brighter light to maintain that contrast, but she’s still one of the more tolerant indoor trailing plants you’ll find.
Best for: bright rooms, high shelves, variegation lovers
12. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston ferns were built for hanging baskets. The long, arching fronds spill outward in every direction and create a soft, full silhouette that fills a space beautifully.
She needs humidity, consistent moisture, and indirect light. She’s more demanding than most plants on this list, but if your bathroom gets good natural light, she’ll thrive there. Research from the University of Vermont Extension identifies Boston ferns as one of the top humidity-tolerant houseplants for bathrooms with natural light exposure.
Best for: humid bathrooms, hanging baskets, bright indirect light
13. Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
Creeping fig trails rather than hanging dramatically, making her a good choice for the edge of a shelf or a planter where you want coverage. The small, slightly wavy leaves create a dense look over time.
She needs consistent moisture and doesn’t like to dry out fully. Medium to bright indirect light keeps her healthy.
Best for: shelf edges, dense coverage, terrariums
14. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis)
Swedish ivy is a reliable, unpretentious plant that doesn’t get enough attention. She grows quickly, trails well, and produces small white or purple flowers occasionally.
She handles a range of light conditions and only asks for regular watering when the top layer of soil dries out. A solid choice for a hanging basket in a room where other plants have struggled.
Best for: hanging baskets, medium-light rooms, reliable growth
15. Neon Pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon’)
Neon pothos has lime-green leaves so vivid they look almost luminous. She shares the same easy care as other pothos varieties but brings a completely different energy to a shelf or hanging basket.
She does best in moderate to bright indirect light, which keeps that color saturated. In low light, the leaves tend toward a more muted yellow-green. For a full comparison of pothos varieties and what makes each one different, the pothos varieties guide is worth reading before you choose.
Best for: bright rooms, color contrast, high shelves
Seasonal Care Calendar for Trailing Plants
Most care guides tell you what to do but not when. Trailing plants follow seasonal rhythms even indoors, and matching your care to the season prevents most of the common problems.
Spring (March to May)
This is when trailing plants want to grow. If a plant has been in the same pot for two or more years, check the drainage holes in March: roots poking through is your signal to repot, one size up. Start fertilizing monthly as daylight increases. Pothos, philodendron, and tradescantia all root easily in water now, so spring is the best time to take cuttings. Expect faster growth than you saw all winter and adjust your watering frequency to match.
Summer (June to August)
Hanging baskets dry out 30 to 50 percent faster in warm months because air circulates around the pot on all sides. Check the soil every two to three days rather than weekly. Spider mites thrive in dry heat, so watch the undersides of tradescantia and string succulents closely. Move succulents as close to windows as possible to take advantage of peak light intensity. Outdoor hanging baskets should come inside if temperatures exceed 35C.
Autumn (September to November)
Slow down fertilizing in October and stop by November. Growth will slow on its own and pushing it with fertilizer when light is declining causes weak, leggy stems. Reduce watering frequency as the soil takes longer to dry. If you’ve had any trailing plants outdoors for summer, check them carefully for pests before bringing them inside: spider mites and fungus gnats hitchhike easily. Boston ferns often struggle in the transition from outdoor humidity to indoor air: increase misting or use a humidity tray as the heating comes on.
Winter (December to February)
String succulents need near-dormancy in winter. Water once a month or even less, and let them sit completely dry for longer than feels comfortable. Move all trailing plants away from cold drafts near single-glazed windows: the roots chill faster than the leaves show it. Don’t fertilize until you see new growth in late winter, which usually starts in February. If your vines look slow or tired, that’s normal and healthy. The rest is part of the cycle.
A Note on Pet Safety
Several plants on this list are toxic to cats and dogs, including pothos varieties, string of pearls, string of hearts, and English ivy. The ASPCA maintains a comprehensive toxic plant database, and it’s worth checking before you hang anything within reach of a curious pet. The cat-safe indoor plants guide covers which trailing plants are genuinely safe options if you share your home with animals.
Darryl Cheng, author of The New Plant Parent, puts it plainly: “The best plant for your home is the one that fits your actual conditions, not the one you wish you had.” For homes with pets, that means starting the search with safety, then working outward to light and care requirements.
Choosing the Right Trailing Plant for Your Space
The best trailing plant for your space comes down to two things: your light conditions and your watering habits.
If you tend to forget to water, lean toward succulents: string of pearls, string of hearts, or burro’s tail. If you water regularly and have good humidity, a Boston fern or creeping fig will reward you. If light is limited, pothos and heartleaf philodendron are your most forgiving options.
Research from NC State Extension found that overwatering is the leading cause of houseplant death indoors, responsible for more losses than underwatering, pests, and poor light combined. With trailing plants, this tends to show up as yellowing leaves near the base of a vine. If you see that pattern, let the soil dry out more fully before the next watering rather than adjusting anything else first.
If your space doesn’t get much natural light, don’t rule out trailing plants entirely. Pothos, heartleaf philodendron, and spider plant all handle low light reasonably well. For spaces with no useful natural light at all, a grow light positioned above a hanging basket can make a genuine difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest trailing plant for a complete beginner? Golden pothos. She tolerates low light, bounces back from missed waterings, and grows fast enough that you’ll see progress quickly. Start there and add others once you have a feel for how trailing plants behave.
Can trailing plants survive in low light? Some can. Pothos varieties, heartleaf philodendron, and spider plant all manage in lower light conditions. Succulents like string of pearls and burro’s tail need bright light and won’t thrive away from a window. Match the plant to your actual light rather than trying to force a sun-lover into a dim corner.
Why is my trailing plant getting sparse and leggy? Usually light. When a trailing plant doesn’t get enough, it stretches toward the nearest source and stops putting energy into side growth. The fix is more light, plus pinching back the tips to encourage branching. With tradescantia especially, regular pinching makes the difference between a full, lush plant and a few sad threads.
How do I water a plant in a hanging basket? The tricky part is drainage: most hanging baskets either drain into a saucer you can’t see or drip onto the floor. Water slowly until it runs out the bottom, let it drain fully, then hang it back up. Check the soil with your finger before watering again, rather than going by a schedule. Hanging baskets dry out faster than pots on a shelf because air circulates around them on all sides.
Are trailing plants safe for cats and dogs? It depends on the plant. Pothos, string of pearls, string of hearts, and English ivy are all toxic to pets if ingested. Spider plants, Boston ferns, and creeping fig are generally considered safe. The cat-safe indoor plants guide has a fuller breakdown if you need to narrow your choices.
How long can trailing plants get indoors? Pothos vines can reach several meters given enough time and good conditions. Most people trim them back when they get unwieldy, and the trimmings root easily in water. String succulents stay more compact, rarely exceeding 60 to 90 cm indoors. The length depends more on pot size, light, and how often you fertilize than on the variety.
Can I mix different trailing plants in the same hanging basket? You can, but pair plants with similar needs. Pothos and heartleaf philodendron work well together because they like similar light and watering. Mixing a succulent with a fern in the same pot usually ends badly for one of them. If you want a mixed look, try grouping separate pots at the same height rather than combining them in one container.
Trailing plants reward attention without demanding it. Start with one that fits your light and your habits, and pay attention to how it responds. The plants themselves will tell you what they need. Download KnowYourPlant for personalized care reminders that adapt to your specific plants and conditions.