Apr 304 min read

Container Design 101 and Our Favorite Plants to Use in Your Planters, Porch Pots, or Baskets

Updated: Jul 17

Each year Painters offers a variety of mature combination pots to add instant color to a front porch or patio. And this year they are stunning! But for those who might be interested in the creative endeavor of planting and designing your own, it can be as simple as 1-2-3. The design idea behind basic container planting starts with a time-honored three-step template: Thriller - Filler - Spiller:

Thrillers are plants with height. They add drama; they add splash; they constitute the vertical element of the container. Thrillers might be a showy bloom or ornamental grass or bright, tall foliage. They are generally placed either in the center of the container with plants all around or towards the back to set a front-facing scene. Read further down to find a list of Painters favorites.

Fillers are just as they sound. They are plants that create the center of the design and make it look full. They tend to be plants with a mounding habit and generally are placed in front of or around the tall element. There are many choices in this category so choose from your favorite colors or foliage.

Spillers are also easily self-explanatory! They are the plants that spill over the lip of the container. They are plants with trailing habits and are placed along the front or the edges of the planter so they can spill over the sides. We always grow a wide variety of favorites including those listed below.

But first here's a quick photo tutorial on creating a very simple Thriller-Filler-Spiller design for a sunny spot:

Thriller = Dahlia 'City Lights', Filler = Purple false shamrock, Spiller = Glitz euphorbia

You can start with just the basic three items, but add additional Fillers and Spillers depending on how full you want your pot to be. For example, in this pot, you could add two of the false shamrocks and two glitz euphorbia to create more lushness. Or you can add a different fourth or a fifth component to really punch it up! Maybe a spike plant or an additional color component. Then just make sure to water it all in and enjoy your new creation!

Find your full selection of Spillers and Fillers in Aisle 3 of Painter's Main Greenhouse!

Some Recommended Thrillers

For a Tropical Vibe: Taro, Canna, Ensete (False Banana), Asparagus Fern, or a Spike
Annual grasses for showy seed-heads or intense color contrasts: Purple Fountain Grass, First Knight, Fireworks
Perennial grasses for a more natural look & year-round interest: Northern Sea Oats, Everoro Sedge & Orange Sedge are favorites along with Japanese Forest Grass
Herby Options: Lemongrass, Rosemary, a tall ornamental basil like African Blue

Some Favorite Fillers

For sun, Geraniums, Zinnias & Lantana are great
Hens and Chicks
Dahlias (shorter cultivars such as City Lights series are ideal)
Petunias - especially Potunia, Crazytunia and others bred for compact container-friendly habit
Fan Flower
Persian Shield
Shrimp Plant
Duranta for bright color
Salvia farinacea or Salvia guaranitica
Rex Begonia
Lavender
African Blue Basil
Torenia, Polka Dot Plant, or New Guinea Impatiens for shade
Coleus (We have compact, large leafed varieties that do well in both shade and sun.)

Fuschia Gartenmeister, Mexican Heather, or Plectranthus Velvet Elvis for part shade
Oxalis, False Shamrocks
Caladiums

Ferns - especially Japanese Painted, Autumn Fern, Japanese Holly, and Limelight Lady Fern

And Spillers

Dichondra 'Silver Falls'

Wire Vine
Licorice Plant
Sweet Potato Vine

Sedum - 'Angelina' is a favorite!
Bacopa
Red Stem Pilea
Portulaca
Golden Oregano
Mint
Thymes
Trailing Tradescantias
Turtle Vine

*Make sure to check signage, tags, or do a little research to ensure you are combining items that have the same sun and moisture preferences. A Painters pet-peeve is seeing combo pots sold that contain a mixture of sun and shade loving or drought and moisture loving plants - we want you to have combos that last all season and are designed to thrive!