Our Favorite Design Concept for Containers

The thriller-filler-spiller design concept is my favorite for containers. The design makes such a big impact and takes a lot of the guesswork out of planning a container planting.

Thrillers

You start with tall thriller plants that add a vertical element to the combination. If your container will be viewed from one side, plant the thriller in the back. If it will be visible from all sides, stick it in the middle. Some of my favorite thrillers are switchgrass, angelonia and coleus.

Fillers

Use more rounded plants as fillers to give the container the look of abundance, such as lantana, spurge and SunPatiens. If the thriller is in the back, place the filler flowers in front of and around the thriller in a U-shape. Otherwise, place them all around the thriller.

Spillers

Finally, spillers go in. These trailing plants soften the edge of the container and balance the height of the thriller. I like to use sweet alyssum and petunias. Depending on how your container will be viewed, plant a couple of spillers in the front or use several spillers all around the edge of the container.

favorite design concept for containers
A container design featuring coleus as the thriller, lantana as the filler, and verbena as the spiller

If you are interested in learning more about container design, join our Lunch & Learn on Saturday, April 24.

You can also easily combine annuals and perennials to really make those containers pop. For more information on combo planting, check out the YouTube video below.

  • Home
  • Grow
  • Our Favorite Design Concept for Containers