10 Stunning Geranium Hanging Basket Combinations

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 Geraniums (specifically Pelargoniums) are a beloved classic for hanging baskets in the US, known for their vibrant, non-stop summer color and heat tolerance. While trailing Ivy Geraniums are an excellent choice on their own, pairing them with the right companion plants can transform a simple basket into a breathtaking focal point.

To achieve that professional, lush look favored by American gardeners, we often use the “Thriller, Filler, and Spiller” method. The Geranium usually acts as the Filler (adding volume and color) or, if an upright variety is used, the Thriller (the dramatic focal point).

Here are 10 stunning, tried-and-true combinations for your sunny porches, patios, and balconies.

Classic Color Pairings (Thriller, Filler, Spiller)

These combinations use contrasting or complementary colors for maximum visual impact.

1. The Red, White, and Blue Salute

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Bold Red Zonal Geraniums)
  • Thriller: Dracaena Spike (Dracaena indivisa) – Provides vertical height and drama.
  • Spiller: ‘Waterfall Blue’ Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) and White Bacopa (Sutera cordata) – Lobelia offers delicate blue flowers, while Bacopa adds a cascade of tiny white blooms. This is a patriotic favorite for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

2. Hot Pink & Chartreuse Glow

  • Geranium Role: Filler/Spiller (Trailing Hot Pink Ivy Geraniums)
  • Thriller: Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) – Its burgundy plumes contrast sharply with the pink.
  • Spiller: ‘Margarita’ Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) – The bright, almost lime-green foliage trails beautifully and provides a stunning color pop against the dark grass and hot pink flowers.
Geranium

Geranium

3. Cool Contrast in Purple & White

  • Geranium Role: Filler (White Zonal Geraniums)
  • Thriller: Angelonia (or Summer Snapdragon) in deep purple – Offers continuous, elegant vertical flower spires.
  • Spiller: Silver Falls Dichondra (Dichondra argentea) – Its velvety, silver-dollar-sized leaves provide a striking, silvery-white waterfall effect that complements the white geraniums.

Texture & Foliage Focus

These mixes rely less on flower color and more on varied leaf shape and texture for sophistication.

4. The Victorian Emerald

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Scarlet Zonal Geraniums)
  • Thriller: A small, upright Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) – The airy, feathery texture of the fern creates a soft, cloud-like backdrop.
  • Spiller: English Ivy (Hedera helix) – Its classic, dark green leaves with defined points provide contrast to the geranium’s rounded foliage and cascade over the basket’s edge.

5. Sun-Kissed Yellow & Orange

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Orange Zonal Geraniums)
  • Thriller: Bright yellow, upright Lantana variety – Adds a citrus burst and attracts pollinators.
  • Spiller: Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) – A bright gold/chartreuse, low-growing vine that adds a vibrant, dense layer to the rim of the basket.

High-Volume Cascades (The Spillers Take Over)

Perfect for a completely overflowing basket that looks professional and well-established.

6. The European Balcony

  • Geranium Role: Spiller (Mini Cascade Ivy Geraniums) – Plant three or more of the same color (e.g., bright red) for a monoculture look.
  • Companion: No Thriller or Spiller needed. This traditional look emphasizes a solid, dense “wall” of the Ivy Geranium alone, allowing it to dominate the basket.

7. The Purple & Magenta Waterfall

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Magenta Zonal Geraniums)
  • Spiller 1: Calibrachoa (Million Bells) in a complementary shade of deep purple – Provides a delicate, continuous bloom.
  • Spiller 2: Trailing Verbena in white or pale pink – Adds a different flower shape and texture, weaving through the Calibrachoa.

8. The Silvery-Lush Basket

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Salmon-Pink Zonal Geraniums)
  • Spiller 1: ‘Mystic Illusion’ Dahlia – While a filler/thriller, its dark, almost black foliage is a stark contrast to the salmon geraniums.
  • Spiller 2: Silver Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare) – The soft, woolly silver-gray foliage trails dramatically, acting as a stunning frame for the flowers.

Easy Care & Low Maintenance

For gardeners who want a beautiful look with minimal fuss.

9. Simple, Elegant Pairing

  • Geranium Role: Filler (Any Color Zonal Geranium)
  • Spiller: Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) in white – This delicate, honey-scented plant fills in the edges beautifully and is extremely heat-tolerant and low-maintenance.

10. The Edible Twist

  • Geranium Role: Thriller (Scented Geranium with upright growth) – Choose a lemon or rose-scented variety.
  • Filler: Bushy Basil or Thyme – Practical, fragrant, and provides dense, textural leaves.
  • Spiller: Trailing Rosemary or Nasturtium (edible flowers and leaves) – Adds a final cascading, functional layer.
Article copyright by GreenShip

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