THRILLERS, FILLERS & SPILLERS: HOW TO DESIGN A STUNNING SPRING PLANTER
The onset of spring is always an exciting time for gardeners. The birds start chirping, the ground begins to thaw, and the early spring blooms like tulips and daffodils start to poke their sweet little heads out of the ground.
It's the time of year when we can start getting our garden prepped for the season ahead and start thinking about planters and container gardening! The most exciting aspect of container gardening with annuals is that you can start over with a fresh new color palette and fresh new ideas every year.
Creating a stunning planter from scratch might seem a little daunting, but the pros actually use a simple method that makes planter design a breeze! While not commonly known, garden and landscape designers use the "Thriller, Filler, Spiller" method. It is a simple and effective way to select, arrange and design flowers to create more depth, texture, and interest in hanging baskets or container plantings. Here's how it works!
The Thriller, Filler, Spiller Method Demystified
When selecting flowers for your planter design, be sure to make a group with similar care requirements, such as light, water, and humidity. You'll have a happy planter if all of your plants get along and like the same care treatment!
Thrillers
The "thriller" is the bold focal point of your planter design, and nearly any plant with an upright growth habit can act as a thriller! Keep the height of your pot in mind when you select your thriller; shallower pots don't need as much height in the thriller as a large container will.
You'll typically want to place your thriller in the center or back of your planter. It is most effective when they have standout features like dramatic foliage, bold flowers, or lots of height.
Good Thriller Plants: Bromeliads, Dracaena, Iris, Purple Fountain Grass, Canna Lily, Echinacea (Coneflower), Dahlia, Cosmos, Agapanthus, Alocasia or Colocasia (Elephant Ear).
Fillers
These are midsize, mounding, or rounded plants that surround and accentuate the thriller. If the thriller is the star of the show, fillers make up the chorus.
If you place your thriller in the middle of the container and want it to be gorgeous from all sides, your filler plants will encircle your thriller completely. If you put your thriller at the back of the planter because you will only see the planter from one side (like against a wall), then your fillers will make up the middle row of your planter design. The color, texture, shape, and height should all act in a way that they accent the thriller.
Good Filler Plants: Catmint, Caladium, Petunias, Impatiens, Begonias, Boston Fern, Dianthus, Phlox, Salvia, Sedum, or Gerbera Daisies.
Spillers
The final piece of the planter design puzzle is your spiller plant. These plants will tumble over the sides of your hanging basket or container, and they should tie the color and texture of the thriller and filler plants together.
If you will see your planter from all sides, you will need to plant your spillers all the way around the edge of the pot so it can cascade out. If you plant your thriller at the back of the pot and your filler in the middle row, your spiller will take up the remaining space at the front edge of the pot.
Good Spiller Plants: Sweet Potato Vine, Creeping Thyme, Ivy, Dichondra, Supercascade Petunia, Lobelia, Creeping Jenny, Trailing Geraniums, or Trailing Verbena.
The best part about creating your own planter design ideas using this simple method is that you can experiment a ton; don't be afraid to get creative! Stop by Dammann's Garden Co. to see all the different thrillers, fillers, and spillers we have in stock!