Make a splash this spring by creating Thriller, Filler, Spiller container gardens for your home, business or commercial property. With a little planning, and the right plants, you can create an eye-catching arrangement that will make your home or place of business really stand out.

Even if this term is new to you, you’ve probably seen the “thriller, filler, spiller” container garden in action at garden stores, homes, and commercial properties before. The term describes how plants are arranged to create professional-looking container gardens that are easy to care for and look great throughout the seasons. The three rhyming words are a great way to help gardeners ensure that they have all the elements needed for a successful container garden: A focal point, lush filler that looks good from all sides, pleasing color, and plants that work in harmony to create a pleasing arrangement.

Here is a guide for creating a thriller, filler, spiller garden, as well as ideas for types of plants to use. And a pro tip: Be sure to choose plants with the same sunlight and water requirements, and check with your gardening pro about fertilizing requirements, for ease of care and long-lasting health.

Thrillers

Thrillers provide a bold focal point for your design. It’s larger and taller than the rest of the plants, providing an eye-catching vertical element. Tall ornamental grasses are great, or you can also use spikes, variegated bamboos, or tall blooming plants such as Lavender, Cosmos, Salvias, Canna Lilies or Dahlias. The main goal is to pick a show-stopper that will stand out and create a visual anchor for the rest of the flowers.

If you are placing your planter in an area where it can be seen from all sides, plant your thriller in the middle. If the planter is against a wall, you can place it in the back.

Fillers

Fillers are mid-size, mounding or rounded plants that are placed in front of or surrounding the “thriller” element of your planter. You can use one or several different plants for this part. Many people opt to use at least one colorful annual that can be changed out with the seasons.

Ideas for fillers are Petunias, Geraniums, Impatiens, Coleus, Dusty Miller, Begonias, herbs, and small ornamental grasses.

Spillers

Spillers are the perfect counterpoint to your thriller, using plants that cascade and flow over the sides of the container to create a balanced effect. These are planted around the edge of the container to overflow and soften the edges.

Spiller plant ideas include: Sweet potato vine, Bacopa, Ivy, Trailing lobelia, Vinca, Alyssum, Nasturtium, Trailing begonia, Lantana, and Calibrachoa.

If you need help choosing the right plants to create your own Thriller, Filler and Spiller, we can help. Here at Luis’ Nursery, we carry a wide variety of flowers and plants to choose from, as well as containers, soil, fertilizers and even accessories to give container gardens your own personal touch. We invite you to visit us at 139 S Mariposa Ave in Visalia or give us a call at 559-747-5015.