Pink and purple are two of the easiest colors to love in a hanging basket. They look soft in the morning, rich in the evening light, and they pair with almost any porch, patio or fence.
If you want a basket that looks full from spring to frost, hanging plants with pink and purple flowers are a smart place to start.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through 15 of my favorite basket plants, sorted by how much sun they need. I’ll also cover cool-season options, how to mix colors in one pot, and the care habits that keep the flowers coming all season.
How to Pick the Right Pink or Purple Basket Plant
The right plant depends mostly on your light, your climate and how much daily care you can give. Match the plant to the spot first, then pick the shade of pink or purple you like best.
Start With Your Light
Light is the biggest factor in whether a basket thrives or fizzles. Watch your spot for a full day before you buy anything.
- Full sun: 6 or more hours of direct sun.
- Part shade: about 3 to 6 hours of sun, ideally in the morning.
- Shade: less than 3 hours of direct sun, or bright filtered light all day.
A sun lover in deep shade will stretch and stop blooming. A shade plant in hot afternoon sun will scorch and wilt. My advice is to be honest about your light, even if your heart is set on a certain flower.
Think About Heat and Season
Some pink and purple plants love summer heat. Others, like fuchsia and lobelia, prefer cool weather and fade when temperatures climb.
If you live where summers are long and hot, lean on heat-tolerant plants for your main display. Save the cool-weather plants for spring and fall, when they look their best.
Choose the Right Basket and Supplies
A good container makes care much easier. I like a hanging basket with a coco liner because it drains well and lets roots breathe. Just know that coco liners dry out faster than plastic, so you’ll water more often.
The other supply I always keep on hand is a water-soluble flower fertilizer. Basket plants have limited soil, and they bloom heavily. Regular feeding is what keeps them flowering instead of fading by July.
Here’s a quick look at what to consider before you buy:
| Factor | What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Hours of direct sun | Decides which plants will bloom well |
| Heat | Typical summer highs | Some plants stall in hot weather |
| Basket size | 12 inches or wider | Bigger baskets dry out more slowly |
| Drainage | Holes or a porous liner | Prevents soggy roots and rot |
| Your schedule | Time for daily watering | Small baskets need more attention |
Best Picks for Full Sun
Petunias, calibrachoa, trailing verbena, lantana, scaevola, ivy geranium, mandevilla and bacopa all shine in sunny baskets. These eight give you a wide range of pink and purple shades, from pale blush to deep violet.
Petunias and Calibrachoa
1. Petunias
Petunias are the classic choice for sunny baskets. They come in nearly every shade of pink and purple, plus striped and veined patterns.
Spreading types trail over the edge and fill a basket fast. Many petunias need deadheading to keep blooming, but some newer types are self-cleaning, meaning old flowers drop on their own. Check the plant tag to see which kind you have.
2. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa looks like a tiny petunia, with dozens of small flowers covering the plant. It’s self-cleaning, so you don’t have to pinch off spent blooms.
This plant has two key needs. It likes a slightly acidic potting mix and excellent drainage. If the soil stays soggy, calibrachoa can yellow and decline quickly.
Trailing Verbena, Lantana and Scaevola
3. Trailing Verbena
Trailing verbena produces clusters of small flowers in pink, purple and lavender. It spills nicely over the sides of a basket.
It handles heat well and adds a looser, cottage-style feel. Give it good air flow to keep the leaves healthy.
4. Lantana
Lantana is a tough, heat-loving plant with rounded flower clusters. Look for pink and lavender forms for this color scheme.
It’s one of the best hanging plants that survive high temperatures, so it’s a great pick for hot patios. If you want more ideas for scorching spots, read my guide to hanging plants that survive high temperatures.
Lantana also draws pollinators. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the blooms often. Keep in mind that lantana is toxic to pets if eaten, so hang it out of reach.
5. Scaevola (Fan Flower)
Scaevola has unusual flowers shaped like a small hand fan. The purple forms are the most common and look striking in a basket.
It handles heat and drier conditions better than many basket plants. It also tends to keep a neat shape without much trimming.
Ivy Geranium, Mandevilla and Bacopa
6. Ivy Geranium
Ivy geraniums have glossy, ivy-shaped leaves and trailing stems. Their flowers come in pink and lavender, among other colors.
They’re classic in window boxes and baskets. Pinch off faded flower clusters to keep new ones coming.
7. Mandevilla
Mandevilla is a tropical vine with large, trumpet-shaped flowers. Pink is the most popular color, and it makes a bold statement.
Look for basket types, which are bred to stay more compact. Hummingbirds love mandevilla, as well as fuchsia and lantana. If you want to bring more of them to your porch, check out my list of hanging plants that attract hummingbirds.
8. Bacopa
Bacopa produces tiny, delicate flowers on trailing stems. It comes in pink and lavender forms that soften the edge of any basket.
The key with bacopa is steady moisture. Keep it evenly moist, because it can stop blooming if it dries out completely.
Here’s a quick comparison of the full-sun picks:
| Plant | Colors | Deadheading Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petunia | Pink, purple | Many types yes | Check for self-cleaning types |
| Calibrachoa | Pink, purple | No | Likes acidic mix, sharp drainage |
| Trailing verbena | Pink, purple, lavender | Light trimming | Good air flow helps |
| Lantana | Pink, lavender | No | Very heat tolerant |
| Scaevola | Purple | No | Handles some dryness |
| Ivy geranium | Pink, lavender | Yes | Pinch spent clusters |
| Mandevilla | Pink | No | Hummingbird favorite |
| Bacopa | Pink, lavender | No | Keep evenly moist |
Best Picks for Part Shade and Shade
Fuchsia, impatiens, wishbone flower and dragon wing begonia are the top choices for shadier spots. They give you bright pink and purple color where sun lovers would struggle.
Fuchsia and Impatiens
9. Fuchsia
Fuchsia might be the most elegant basket plant there is. Its dangling flowers look like little ballerinas in pink, purple, or both colors together.
Fuchsia prefers cool temperatures and shade. It tends to struggle when temperatures climb above about 85°F. In hot climates, give it morning sun at most and plenty of afternoon shade.
Hummingbirds visit fuchsia often. A fuchsia basket by a window is a great way to watch them up close.
10. Impatiens and New Guinea Impatiens
Standard impatiens are a shade favorite for good reason. They bloom heavily in pink and purple and fill out a basket evenly.
New Guinea impatiens have larger flowers and bolder leaves. They also tolerate more sun than standard impatiens. That makes them handy for part-shade spots that get a few hours of morning light.
Both types like consistent moisture. They wilt quickly when dry but usually perk up soon after a good drink.
Wishbone Flower and Dragon Wing Begonia
11. Wishbone Flower (Torenia)
Torenia gets its common name from the small wishbone shape inside each flower. The purple forms are the most common, often with a lighter throat.
It’s a great shade plant that trails gently over basket edges. It keeps blooming through summer with very little fuss.
12. Dragon Wing Begonia
Dragon wing begonias have glossy, wing-shaped leaves and arching stems. The pink forms are lovely in a basket, with flowers that hang in clusters.
They’re tough and forgiving. They handle part shade well and don’t need deadheading to stay attractive.
Here’s how the shade picks compare:
| Plant | Colors | Light | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuchsia | Pink, purple | Shade, part shade | Struggles above about 85°F |
| Impatiens | Pink, purple | Shade | Needs steady moisture |
| New Guinea impatiens | Pink, purple | Part shade | Handles more sun |
| Wishbone flower | Purple | Shade | Easy and steady bloomer |
| Dragon wing begonia | Pink | Part shade | Low maintenance |
Cool-Season Picks for Spring and Fall
Lobelia, sweet alyssum, and pansies or violas are the best pink and purple choices for cool weather. They bloom heavily in spring and fall, then often slow down or fade in summer heat.
Lobelia and Sweet Alyssum
13. Lobelia
Trailing lobelia produces a cloud of tiny flowers, and its purple forms are especially rich. It makes a soft, airy curtain over the edge of a basket.
Lobelia is a cool-season plant. It tends to fade when summer heat sets in, so enjoy it in spring and again in fall where your climate allows. It also does well in part shade.
14. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum has tiny clustered flowers with a light, honey-like scent. Purple forms work beautifully in this color scheme.
It grows in full sun but performs better in cool weather. In hot summers, it may stall. A light trim often helps it bloom again once temperatures drop.
Pansies and Violas
15. Pansies and Violas
Pansies and violas are cheerful cool-season flowers in many shades of purple, plus some pinks. Pansies have larger faces, while violas have smaller flowers in greater numbers.
They’re perfect for early spring baskets before summer annuals go out. They also make a great fall basket after summer plants are done. Pinch off faded flowers to keep them blooming longer.
When to Plant Cool-Season Baskets
Plant cool-season baskets in early spring, once hard freezes are mostly behind you. Many of these plants handle light frost better than summer annuals do.
For fall, plant them as summer heat breaks. In mild-winter areas, pansies and violas can keep going through much of the cool season.
My advice is to swap baskets with the seasons. Use cool-season plants in spring, switch to heat lovers for summer, then go back to cool-season plants in fall.