Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! I’ve been container gardening for years, and let me tell you – finding the perfect filler plants can make or break your container design. Today, I’m super excited to share my top picks for filler plants that’ll make your containers look absolutely stunning!
Why Filler Plants Matter in Container Design
Before diving into the specific plants, let’s quickly talk about why fillers are so crucial. In container gardening, we use the “Thriller-Filler-Spiller” technique, where:
- Thrillers are your tall, dramatic centerpieces
- Fillers add bulk and color to the middle space
- Spillers cascade over the edges
Filler plants are like the supporting actors in your container garden – they might not be the stars. but without them the whole show falls flat!
My Top 10 Favorite Filler Plants for Containers
1. Coleus
Listen up, y’all – if you want instant drama in your containers, coleus is your best friend! These beauties come in:
- Lime green
- Burgundy
- Pink
- Yellow
- Orange
- Chocolate brown
- Cream
What I love most about coleus is how easy they are to grow. Just give ’em partial sun and keep the soil moist and they’ll reward you with stunning foliage all season long.
2. Pentas
OMG, if you haven’t tried pentas yet, you’re missing out! These stars of the garden offer:
- Continuous blooming from spring to fall
- Heights of 12-36 inches
- Star-shaped flowers in pink, red, white, and lavender
- Amazing heat tolerance
3. Petunias
Okay I know petunias might seem basic but trust me – they’re popular for a reason! These workhorses of the container garden
- Bloom ALL summer long
- Come in every color imaginable
- Grow 6-12 inches tall
- Spread up to 24 inches wide
4. Impatiens
For those shady spots, impatiens are literally perfect! They:
- Bloom from early spring through first frost
- Need minimal deadheading
- Come in tons of colors
- Stay neat and compact
5. Polka Dot Plant
Want something totally unique? The polka dot plant is your answer! With:
- Spotted leaves in white, pink, red, and green
- Compact growth of 8-12 inches
- Perfect for partial shade
- Amazing texture
6. Alyssum
Y’all, this tiny powerhouse is one of my absolute favorites! Alyssum offers:
- Sweet fragrance
- Delicate clusters of flowers
- Height of 4-6 inches
- Trailing width of 12+ inches
7. Moss Rose (Portulaca)
For those hot, sunny containers, moss rose is a game-changer:
- Succulent-like foliage
- Stunning flower colors
- Drought-tolerant
- Spreads 18+ inches
8. Pansies
Perfect for spring and fall containers:
- Huge color range
- Bi-color options
- 4-9 inches tall
- Great for part sun spots
9. Caladium
Want dramatic foliage? Caladiums are your best bet:
- Heart-shaped leaves
- White, pink, red, green variations
- 12-18 inches tall
- Perfect for shade
10. Lobelia
Last but not least, lobelia brings the charm:
- Tiny, abundant flowers
- Blues, whites, and violets
- Low-growing but trailing
- Perfect edge softener
Pro Tips for Using Filler Plants
Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
-
Size Matters: Choose fillers that are 1/3 to 2/3 the size of your thriller plants
-
Color Coordination: Pick colors that complement your thriller and spiller plants
-
Maintenance Tips:
- Water regularly (especially in heat)
- Feed with slow-release fertilizer
- Pinch back as needed for bushier growth
-
Seasonal Considerations:
- Use pansies in spring/fall
- Switch to heat-loving options in summer
- Consider bringing some indoors for winter
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trust me, I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to:
- Overcrowding containers (give those babies room to grow!)
- Ignoring sun requirements (right plant, right place, folks!)
- Forgetting about mature sizes
- Using only one type of filler
Final Thoughts
Creating gorgeous container gardens isn’t rocket science – it’s all about choosing the right plants and giving them proper care. With these filler plants in your arsenal, you’re well on your way to creating stunning container displays that’ll make your neighbors jealous!
Remember, gardening should be fun! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations until you find what works best in your space. And hey, if something doesn’t work out? There’s always next season!
Now get out there and start planting! And lemme know in the comments which filler plants are your favorites – I’d love to hear your experiences!
Would you like me to explain anything in more detail? I’m always happy to share more gardening tips!
Fine Gardening Project Guides
For a lush container that is sure to dazzle, use three types of plants that perform different functions but work in harmony.
One of my favorite garden pastimes is cooking up new ideas for planting containers. I’ve never bothered to count just how many pots I plant each year, but the number easily tops 100.
But no matter how many pots I display, I’ve come to realize there’s no mystery in making a scrumptious container planting as long as I follow a simple three-ingredient recipe. First and foremost is what I call a “thriller,” a centerpiece plant with star quality, something big, bold, and beautiful. Then I add a few spicy “fillers,” foliage or flowering plants that will complement but not overwhelm the main player. Finally, I add a savory splash of mischief, a “spiller” that just tumbles out of the pot. As long as I use each of those kinds of plants—in various proportions—and take care to balance colors and textures, I can create a pot with pizzazz.
Thrillers are the star
As the name implies, thrillers are the big, attention-getting star players. They are usually tall, upright plants, with outstanding qualities—such as colorful foliage, intriguing shape, or dramatic flowers—that last all season long. Many thrillers are architectural: plants with structural, eye-catching form that can serve as a sturdy backbone or rugged framework for a scrim of less substantial plants. Think of the boldly colorful, paddlelike leaves of Canna ‘Pretoria’ or the bright spikes of Yucca filamentosa ‘Gold Edge’.
Thrillers work best in compositions where they are the tallest plant. For me, they are also the starting point in a container design. I select my thriller, then build around it. At planting time, the thriller goes in the center of a pot that will be viewed from all sides or at the back of a pot that will be displayed in a corner or against a wall.
- Agaves (Agave spp. and cvs., Zones 11)
- Bananas (Musa spp. and cvs., Zones 8–11; Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, Zones 11)
- Cannas (Canna ‘Pretoria’, ‘Tropicanna’, and ‘Black Knight’, Zones 8–11)
- Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, Zones 9–10)
- Taros (Colocasia esculenta and cvs., Zones 9–11)
Next, I add the fillers—billowy, more finely textured plants that surround and weave through the thriller. Fillers add mass to the overall composition and, more important, establish a dialogue with the thriller. Fillers add a textural contrast or colorful counterpoint. In a monochromatic composition, they may simply echo the thriller, though with less saturated color or at a reduced scale. Texturally, I might use a round-leaved filler with a spiky thriller. Since fillers are usually plants with a mounded silhouette, they also do just what the name implies: They fill up the pot while embracing the thriller. Often, they help by hiding the bare knees—the less interesting stems or stalks—of their larger neighbor.
When planting a pot, I position my fillers around the thriller. I often use a mix of plants for this job: some with foliar interest, others with flowers. For flowery fillers, I avoid perennial varieties in favor of uncommon, striking annuals or tender perennials for their much longer flowering season. Since the goal of container plants is to attract the eye, these plants add an alluring unusual flavor. I like bountiful-looking containers, so I cram in as many fillers as I can.
- Begonias (Begonia spp. and cvs., annual)
- Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides cvs., annual)
- Dusty miller (Centaurea cineraria ‘Colchester White’, Zones 7–9)
- Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus, annual)
- Plectranthus (Plectranthus spp. and cvs., annual)
- Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia and cvs., Zones 9–10)
- Cupheas (Cuphea spp. and cvs., annual)
- Fairy fan-flower (Scaevola aemula ‘Blue Wonder’, annual)
- Heliotropes (Heliotropium arborescens and cvs., annual)
- Lantanas (Lantana camara cvs., annual)
- Pentas (Pentas spp. and cvs., annual)
- Trailing petunias (Calibrachoa cvs., Zones 8–11)
The Best Filler Plants For Container Gardens ️
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