If you want to brighten up your outdoor space with hanging baskets, choosing flowers that thrive in full sun is key. Picking the right sun-loving flowers ensures your baskets stay vibrant and healthy, even during the hottest part of the day.
Finding plants that can handle direct sunlight without wilting or fading can save you a lot of time and effort. This article will help you discover flowers that will keep your hanging baskets looking great in sunny spots.
Geraniums
If you want low-maintenance flowers that love the sun, geraniums are a solid pick. They do well in hanging baskets, especially in full sun.
You can also mix them with other sun-loving plants if your pots are big enough. Geraniums handle heat and dryness pretty well, making them great for sunny spots.
Multicolor Begonia

If you want something bright and easy to care for, multicolor begonias are a great pick. They offer colorful blooms and attractive foliage, adding life to your sunny hanging baskets.
You don’t need to fuss much, just make sure they get plenty of indirect sunlight and regular watering. You can find ready-to-go options like the one from Lowe’s in a 1.5-gallon hanging basket to make things simple.
Rocktrumpet
Rocktrumpet is a great choice if you want something that thrives in full sun. You’ll enjoy its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers that add a splash of color to your hanging basket.
It’s pretty low-maintenance, so you don’t have to worry much about watering or special care. Perfect for sunny spots where other plants might struggle.
Petunias
If you want bright, colorful blooms for your sunny hanging basket, petunias are a solid choice. They come in lots of colors and patterns, so you can mix and match to your heart’s content.
Petunias enjoy full sun and need regular watering and feeding to keep flowering well. With a little care, your basket will look lively all season long.
Pansies

Pansies are great if you want bright, cheerful blooms in your hanging baskets. They handle full sun pretty well but appreciate some afternoon shade during hot spells.
You’ll notice their colors stay vibrant longer when they’re not overheated. They’re also easy to care for and add a classic touch to your sunny spots.
Myoporum
If you’re looking for a tough, sun-loving plant for your hanging baskets, Myoporum is a great choice. It can handle full sun and even some shade, making it pretty flexible.
This evergreen perennial spreads nicely and works well as a groundcover too. It’s low maintenance, so you don’t have to fuss over it much to keep it happy.
Begonia Dragon Wing
If you want a hanging basket flower that handles sun and shade, Begonia Dragon Wing is a solid pick. You’ll get bright red blooms and lush green leaves that fill out nicely.
It grows about 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, perfect for your porch or patio. Plus, it’s known for being heat tolerant and keeps flowering all summer long.
Begonia Boliviensis
If you want a flower that handles sun well, Begonia Boliviensis is a solid choice. It’s great for hanging baskets and containers, showing off bright, cascading blooms that add color and life to your space.
You can grow it in full sun or some shade, making it pretty flexible.
Calibrachoa
If you want bright, cheerful blooms that love the sun, calibrachoa is a great pick. You’ll need to give it at least six hours of sunlight daily, though it can handle a bit of shade.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy to keep your plants happy. It’s perfect for hanging baskets where it can spill over the sides and add color to your space.
Double Delight Petunias

Double Delight Petunias are great if you want vibrant color in your hanging baskets. They handle sunlight well, especially in cooler climates.
You’ll notice their full cascading habit makes them perfect for filling out your basket with blooms. Just make sure they get enough sun to shine bright. They’re pretty low-maintenance and can really brighten up your outdoor space without too much fuss.
Mini Bougainvilleas
If you want a splash of bright color, mini bougainvilleas are a great pick. They do well in full sun and bloom often, giving your hanging basket a lively look.
These plants are low-maintenance but need good drainage and regular watering. Place them in a sunny spot, and your mini bougainvillea will brighten up your space with little effort.
Trailing Lantana
Trailing lantana is great if you want a hanging basket that handles full sun all day. You’ll see plenty of flowers because it loves bright light.
It’s super heat-tolerant and drought-resistant, so it’s pretty low-maintenance once established. Just give it room to trail over the edges of your basket for a nice cascading look.
Bacopa
Bacopa is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance hanging basket flower. It loves sun and produces plenty of small, delicate blooms that add a nice touch to your space.
You’ll like that bacopa plants mostly take care of themselves since they deadhead naturally. It pairs well with other heat-loving plants like sweet potato vine for a full look.
Wave Petunias
Wave petunias thrive in full sunlight, so make sure your basket gets plenty of sun each day. They grow low and spread wide, filling out your hanging basket with colorful blooms.
Keep the soil evenly moist and feed them monthly with all-purpose fertilizer to keep the flowers blooming. Rotate your basket occasionally for even growth and a fuller look.
Red Geraniums
Red geraniums are perfect if you want bright, classic color in your hanging baskets. They thrive in full sun and need about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
You can pinch back the stems to encourage more blooms. These flowers also attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding lively movement to your garden.
Lantana
Lantana is great if you want bright, tropical colors in your hanging basket. It loves full sun and can handle heat well, so your plant will keep blooming even in hot weather.
You’ll notice its tiny flower clusters trail nicely over the edges. Plus, it attracts hummingbirds, adding a bit of life to your space.
Sun-tolerant Impatiens
If you love impatiens but struggle with sun, there are varieties that handle full sun better. You can try SunPatiens, which actually thrive in bright, hot spots without wilting.
To keep them happy, plant them close together. This helps shade the roots and keeps soil moist, so your baskets stay lush even in strong sunlight.
Verbena
If you want a flower that thrives in full sun, verbena is a solid choice. It loves bright light and well-drained soil.
You’ll notice vibrant flowers in shades from violet-blue to magenta that can trail nicely in hanging baskets. Just keep it watered regularly because it doesn’t like drying out. Verbena works well as an annual in cooler areas or a perennial if you’re in warmer zones like 7 to 10.