Hanging indoor plants make crowded shelves and tabletops a thing of the past.

PHOTO: ADAM ALBRIGHT

Make crowded shelves and tabletops a thing of the past by hanging your houseplants from your ceilings and walls. The following varieties of hanging indoor plants and their trailing stems, dangling leaves, and gracefully arching shapes will make the best use of your home’s vertical spaces.

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Baby’s Tears

JASON DONNELLY

This small houseplant gets its name from the tiny round leaves that line its delicate, trailing stems. Baby’s tears (Pilea depressa) will grow quickly, draping over a hanging planter like a living curtain.

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Boston Fern

BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

The feathery, draping foliage of a Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) adds instant lushness to indoor spaces. Keep in mind that this fern loves humidity, so spray it with water daily to keep the leaves from drying out, especially in the winter.

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Burro’s Tail

MARTY BALDWIN

Rows of small, plump leaves on cascading stems make burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) one of the most unique succulents to grow indoors. This low-maintenance and drought-tolerant houseplant is often confined to tabletop planters, but it truly shines when its ropelike stems can dangle from a hanging pot.

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English Ivy

JACOB FOX

Also known as common ivy, English ivy (Hedera helix) is grown for its lush, glossy foliage both indoors and out in the garden. It’s one of the best indoor plants for low light but it will grow more full in brighter light. It comes in a number of varieties that offer different leaf shapes and colors.

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Spider Plant

BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

Gracefully arched, narrow leaves earned the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) its name. This popular hanging indoor plant adds a lush jungle feel to a brightly lit room, thanks to its fountain-like foliage and the dangling stems of baby plants it sends out from its center.

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Arrowhead Vine

MARTY BALDWIN

The large, heart-shaped leaves of the arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) give any room a tropical touch. This indoor hanging plant thrives in humidity, so it works especially well in a bathroom or kitchen. Arrowhead vines come in shades of green, pink, and burgundy.

Keep this plant out of your pets’ reach because it is toxic if eaten.1

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Bird’s Nest Fern

BRIE PASSANO

Enhance contemporary decor by hanging a bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) by a window. Its gorgeous, curvy leaves change shape depending on the amount of light exposure—but keep it out of direct sunlight, which will cause the leaves to crumple and turn yellow.

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Pothos

ADAM ALBRIGHT

Adaptable to most growing conditions, a pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the easiest houseplants you can grow. Its long trailing stems are perfect for hanging planters, and for extra interest, you can find varieties with variegated or golden foliage.

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Heartleaf Philodendron

BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

Another super easy houseplant to grow, the heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) doesn’t mind lower light levels and will bounce back easily if you occasionally forget to water it. Trim its long vines back every once in a while to encourage a fuller look. Place the cut stems into a vase of water to easily root them into new plants.

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Chenille Plant

MARTY BALDWIN

The chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) makes an immediate impression. Fuzzy red flowers trail down from deep green foliage, earning the houseplant the nickname red-hot cat’s tail. Take advantage of this plant’s vibrancy and hang it somewhere that needs a little color.

Prune your chenille plant to encourage a fuller look, and give it the brightest light you can.

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Maidenhair Fern

DENNY SCHROCK

Gracefully arching stems of feathery, delicate-looking foliage make the maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum) a stunning hanging indoor plant. However, some environments are too dry for this fern, so be extra aware of your watering habits. Keep the humidity levels up with a humidifier or by misting the leaves daily.

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String of Pearls

JASON DONNELLY

String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a distinctive hanging plant, thanks to the plump, round leaves running along each long, stringlike stem, similar to beads on a necklace. The beads on this unique succulent are filled with water to help it survive periods of drought.

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String of Hearts

Ceropegia woodii or chain of hearts or rosary vine or hearts-on-a-string or sweetheart vine green and red plant soft focus. COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Arguably the most adorable option for an indoor hanging plant is the string of hearts (Ceropegia woodii). Its thin, trailing stems feature small, variegated green and silver heart-shaped leaves with hints of purple. Try planting your string of hearts in a cute pot, then suspending it from a high spot and let the love grow.

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Peperomia

MARTY BALDWIN

Sometimes called a baby rubber plant, peperomia is an easy houseplant for beginners to grow. There are many varieties of this plant, and each one boasts different foliage colors and patterns. Some feature a more upright shape, while others drape their stems over the sides of their containers.

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Moth Orchid

ADAM ALBRIGHT

In nature, moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) are perched in tree branches, but you can create a similar effect by hanging them in your home. Their beautiful flowers are sure to lend an air of sophistication and elegance to any well-lit room. Create this hanging orchid planter for a modern take on an orchid display.

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Staghorn Fern

BRIE PASSANO

This isn’t your typical fern. Staghorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) have bold, broad leaves that never fail to make a statement. Mount yours on a wooden board to hang on a wall or assemble it in a kokedama that you can hang from the ceiling.

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Air Plants

PETER KRUMHARDT

Belonging to the bromeliad family, air plants (Tillandsia spp.) don’t require soil to grow, which makes them easy to display in creative ways. These wispy houseplants work well in glass capsules, mounted on walls, or in macrame plant hangers.

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Satin Pothos

MARTY BALDWIN

Despite the name, satin pothos is not actually a type of pothos, although they are closely related. The trailing variegated leaves of satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus) are showier than those of standard pothos, but the plant is just as low-maintenance. It prefers bright indirect light and tolerates lower light, but the leaves scorch in direct sunlight. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.

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Swiss Cheese Vine

JACOB FOX

The Swiss cheese vine is a fast-growing tropical plant that thrives as a houseplant. The leaves are heart-shaped and laced with holes, hence the name. This plant, also called Adanson’s monstera (Monstera adansonii), grows aerial roots it uses for support as it climbs, but it is just as attractive when growing in a hanging basket. Give a Swiss cheese vine plenty of bright, indirect light and keep it in a consistently moist, well-draining potting mix. Indoors, Swiss cheese plants grow vines that are 3 to 8 feet long.

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Inch Plant

PETER KRUMHARDT

The inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) is an easy-to-grow tropical perennial also known as wandering dude. Varieties include plants with variegated olive and silver foliage with purple undersides and plants with leaves that are purple on both sides with silvery green stripes on the upper surface. Stems root readily in water or where they come in contact with soil. The plant doesn’t like dry or wet soil; aim for slightly moist soil and water it less during winter.

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Grape Ivy

WILLIAM N. HOPKINS

Grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia) adds a touch of the tropics to any space and looks beautiful in a hanging basket. This easy-care houseplant grows best when the soil is slightly dry, and it can go several days between waterings. Place it in an area that receives medium to bright light but not in direct sun.