Collection
Trailing and Climbing Houseplants
Pothos, ivy, hoya, tradescantia: for hanging baskets and moss poles.
The best trailing houseplants are pothos and heartleaf philodendron for most rooms, tradescantia and string of hearts for bright windows, hoya for fragrant flowers, and string of pearls for a sunny spot. Hang them where they get bright, indirect light, check the soil more often than for table plants because baskets near the ceiling dry fast, and pinch the tips regularly so the vines branch and stay full at the top.
What these plants have in common
- Long trailing or climbing stems
- Suitable for hanging baskets, high shelves or a moss pole
- Roots easily from stem cuttings
- Responds to pinching by branching
Goldfish plant
Nematanthus gregarius (syn. N. radicans, Hypocyrta); also Columnea species- Bright filtered light; east window or curtained south or west window; no harsh afternoon sun
- Lightly moist, never soggy: water when the top 1/2 in. is dry, about every 4-7 days in summer, less in winter; soft water
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Hypocyrta / goldfish plant)
Hoya
Hoya carnosa and other Hoya species- Bright indirect; near an east, west or shaded south window; some gentle direct sun OK
- Soak, then let the mix dry almost completely: about every 7-14 days in summer, every 2-4 weeks in winter
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, wax plant)
Monstera
Monstera deliciosa- Bright indirect; tolerates medium light, but leaves stay smaller and less split
- When top 2–3 in. are dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates
Philodendron
Philodendron spp. (heartleaf P. hederaceum and others)- Bright indirect; heartleaf tolerates low light
- When the top 1-2 inches are dry; about every 7-10 days in summer
- Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA)
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum- Bright indirect; east or west window, south behind a sheer; tolerates medium light, variegated types fade in shade
- When the top 1–2 in. are dry: about every 5–8 days in summer, every 10–14 days in winter
- Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates; sap can irritate skin
Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum- Bright indirect; tolerates medium light
- When top 1 inch is dry: ~weekly summer, every 10–14 days winter
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
String of hearts
Ceropegia woodii (syn. Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii)- Bright light: right at an east window, or 1–3 ft from a south or west window; some direct sun is fine
- When the soil is dry all the way through: about every 7–14 days in summer, 3–4 weeks in winter
- Not listed by ASPCA; generally regarded as non-toxic, not formally classified
String of Pearls
Curio rowleyanus (syn. Senecio rowleyanus)- Bright light; gentle morning sun is fine, shade from hot afternoon sun
- Only when the mix is fully dry; about every 2–3 weeks in summer, 3–5 in winter
- Toxic to pets per ASPCA (vomiting, lethargy); sap may irritate skin
Wandering Dude (Tradescantia)
Tradescantia zebrina, T. fluminensis, T. pallida- Bright light with 2–3 hours of morning or filtered sun; east window ideal
- When the top 1 inch is dry: every 3–5 days in summer, 8–12 days in winter
- ASPCA: Tradescantia fluminensis is toxic to cats, dogs and horses (dermatitis)
Comparison: which one fits your conditions
| Plant | Light | Water | Difficulty | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldfish plant | Bright filtered light; east window or curtained south or west window; no harsh afternoon sun | Lightly moist, never soggy: water when the top 1/2 in. is dry, about every 4-7 days in summer, less in winter; soft water | Moderate | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Hypocyrta / goldfish plant) |
| Hoya | Bright indirect; near an east, west or shaded south window; some gentle direct sun OK | Soak, then let the mix dry almost completely: about every 7-14 days in summer, every 2-4 weeks in winter | Easy | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, wax plant) |
| Monstera | Bright indirect; tolerates medium light, but leaves stay smaller and less split | When top 2–3 in. are dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter | Easy | Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates |
| Philodendron | Bright indirect; heartleaf tolerates low light | When the top 1-2 inches are dry; about every 7-10 days in summer | Easy | Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA) |
| Pothos | Bright indirect; east or west window, south behind a sheer; tolerates medium light, variegated types fade in shade | When the top 1–2 in. are dry: about every 5–8 days in summer, every 10–14 days in winter | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates; sap can irritate skin |
| Spider plant | Bright indirect; tolerates medium light | When top 1 inch is dry: ~weekly summer, every 10–14 days winter | Easy | Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA) |
| String of hearts | Bright light: right at an east window, or 1–3 ft from a south or west window; some direct sun is fine | When the soil is dry all the way through: about every 7–14 days in summer, 3–4 weeks in winter | Easy | Not listed by ASPCA; generally regarded as non-toxic, not formally classified |
| String of Pearls | Bright light; gentle morning sun is fine, shade from hot afternoon sun | Only when the mix is fully dry; about every 2–3 weeks in summer, 3–5 in winter | Moderate | Toxic to pets per ASPCA (vomiting, lethargy); sap may irritate skin |
| Wandering Dude (Tradescantia) | Bright light with 2–3 hours of morning or filtered sun; east window ideal | When the top 1 inch is dry: every 3–5 days in summer, 8–12 days in winter | Easy | ASPCA: Tradescantia fluminensis is toxic to cats, dogs and horses (dermatitis) |
Trailing plants soften shelves and make use of space above the furniture. Most are fast growers and easy to multiply, which makes them some of the most rewarding houseplants.
The best trailing and climbing houseplants
- Pothos: Iowa State University Extension calls it one of the easiest and most forgiving houseplants; it can trail from a basket or climb a trellis, and roots quickly from stem cuttings.
- Philodendron: heartleaf philodendron trails like pothos; many other philodendrons climb.
- Hoya: thick, waxy leaves and fragrant flower clusters in bright light.
- Tradescantia: fast and colorful; needs bright light to keep its purple and silver tones.
- String of pearls and string of hearts: succulent trailers for a sunny window; water sparingly.
- Goldfish plant: arching stems and orange flowers.
- Monstera adansonii: a climbing or trailing monstera with holes in its leaves.
- English ivy: for cool, bright rooms.
- Arrowhead plant: starts compact, trails or climbs with age.
Care for plants in hanging baskets
- Light: bright, indirect light is ideal. Baskets hung away from the window get less light than you think.
- Water: warm air rises, so baskets dry out faster. Water when the top inch is dry, and take the basket down so water can drain away completely.
- Pinch: cut stems just above a node to make them branch. Bare vines with leaves only at the end mean too little light or no pruning.
- Propagate: root cuttings in water and replant them in the same pot to fill a thin crown.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension notes that clay pots dry faster than plastic and small pots faster than large, which matters doubly in a basket.
Climbing versus trailing
Aroids such as pothos, philodendron and monstera are natural climbers. Hanging down, they produce small leaves; given a moss pole or plank to climb, leaves grow larger with each node. See moss poles for monstera.
Pets
Per the ASPCA plant list, hoya and spider plant are non-toxic, while pothos, philodendron and English ivy are toxic to cats and dogs. A hanging basket out of reach is a reasonable compromise, but trailing stems that dangle within a cat's jump defeat the point. More in pet-safe plants.
Often mislabeled: plants that don't belong here
| Plant | Why it doesn't really fit |
|---|---|
| Spider plant | Looks great in a basket, but it is a clumping plant that hangs plantlets on runners, not a vine. |
| English ivy indoors | A true vine, but it struggles with warm, dry indoor air and spider mites; best in a cool, bright room. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest trailing houseplant?
Pothos. It grows in low to bright indirect light, recovers from occasional drying out, and its cuttings root in water within a few weeks.
How do I make my trailing plant fuller?
Pinch or cut stem tips just above a leaf node to make them branch, and root the cuttings in water, then plant them back in the same pot near the base.
How often should I water a hanging plant?
More often than one on a table, since warm air near the ceiling dries the soil. Check weekly by touch; a moisture meter or lifting the basket to feel its weight helps.
Which trailing houseplants are safe for cats?
Hoya, Swedish ivy and goldfish plant are non-toxic per ASPCA, as is spider plant. Pothos, philodendron, English ivy and tradescantia are not pet-safe.
Do pothos and philodendron need a moss pole?
No, but climbing on a moist pole lets them produce larger, more mature leaves, much as they do climbing trees in the wild.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these publications. Links open in a new tab.
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List www.aspca.org
- Iowa State University Extension yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension hort.extension.wisc.edu