Container Gardening Basics: Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers
Putting together my container gardens is one of the highlights of the changing seasons. I really love finding that combination of plants that says 'Wow!" I took a class several years back at my local Arboretum and learned the concept of Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers at that class. This Container Gardening Theory 101 has stayed with me and guides me each year as I scope out the combination that just sparks my fancy that season.
It's a happy day when I allot myself an hour or two at my local garden store to just wander the aisles, putting plants together in my cart to see how well they play together.
I always start by finding that Thriller plant around which I will plan the other plants. I like to think that the Thriller has some 'architectural' interest; it's either texturally interesting or is of a unique and attractive color or flower. Think Canna, Elephant Ear, Caladium, Macho Fern and Ornamental Grasses. I have a list of other great Thrillers on my website.
This Thriller is usually placed in the middle or back of your container.
The Filler is that plant which will do as its name implies...help fill your container and add textural or color contrast or complement to your Thriller. Ferns and coleus are common Fillers, but there are many more listed on my site.
Depending on the size of my pot I will use 1-2 of these fillers.
The Spiller should be a plant that will drape over the edge of your pot, softening the edges. Think Sweet Potato vine, Creeping Jenny and Scaveola. Once again, you may need more than 1 depending on the size of your pot. More suggestions listed on my site.
Once you have your plants all picked out, play with the layout in your pot. Are you a lover of symmetry or does an off-center Thriller speak to you?
With this pot, is the grass or the Mandevilla the Thriller? I think it will change through the season.
I love the combination of the Golden Mop Cypress with the Strawberry Drop Coleus and the pink Ice Plant.
In addition to collecting recipes to cook in the kitchen, I collect Container Garden 'recipes' whenever I see one that strikes my fancy. I snap a photo on my iphone and then document the plant names for future reference. If you don't know the name, the photo will help your local arboretum or garden center help you identify it.
And last but not least, I always add a good dose of extended release fertilizer like Osmocote when I plant my container garden.
So, do you have a 'recipe' for a Container Garden that you just love? If so, please share it so that we can build up our Container Garden Recipe Books.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 comments
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These are just beautiful this something I struggle with trying to arrange flowers to look colorful and flowwie
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These are beautiful, Lynn. I especially love your fern/caladium/impatient(?) planter. I'm familiar with the thriller/filler/spiller method. Is it typical to use only one variety for each element?
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