Filler plants are the bridge between the thrillers (tall, attention-grabbing plants) and the spillers (trailing plants that spill over the edges of the container). They serve as the backbone of your arrangement, filling the space between the focal point plants and the edge of the pot. These plants are typically medium in height and have a bushy or mounding growth habit, helping to provide a well-rounded and visually pleasing structure to your container garden.
-
Cardamine bulbosa 'Fairy Lights'
Item #: 16976
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 17" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cardamine bulbosa 'Snow Showers'
Item #: 13874
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cardamine douglassii 'Southern Lady'
Item #: 8601
Zones: 6a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 2.5" pot (7.9 fl. oz/233 ml)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Cardamine quinquefolia
Item #: 10148
Zones: 6a to 8b, guessing
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Asia Minor, Bulgaria, Caucasus Mountains, Iran, Southern Europe, Turkey
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex appalachica
Item #: 5793
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex bromoides
Item #: 12439
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Shade
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex cherokeensis 'Crying Time'
Item #: 16663
Zones: 6a to 9b, possibly colder
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex conica 'Hime'
Item #: 95
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex divulsa
Item #: 8932
Zones: 4a to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Carex eburnea
Item #: 1602
Zones: 2a to 8b, possibly warmer
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/21/2024Sold out -
Carex 'Feather Falls' PP 26,199
Item #: 16730
Zones: 6a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex flacca 'Mini'
Item #: 12441
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Southern Europe
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex haydenii
Item #: 15142
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Shade
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex howei 'Bonnie and Clyde'
Item #: 8727
Zones: 5a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex howei 'Willow the Wisp'
Item #: 17608
Zones: 5a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Carex lanceolata 'Silk Tassel'
Item #: 1197
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 05/31/2024Sold out -
Carex laxiculmis 'Hobb'
Item #: 8383
Zones: 4b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex oshimensis 'Everillo' PP 21,002
Item #: 9802
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Carex pensylvanica 'Straw Hat' PP 29,432
Item #: 14345
Zones: 4a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Canada, United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Gold Crest' PP 32,310
Item #: 15890
Zones: 6a to 9b, guessing
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Caryopteris divaricata 'Blue Butterflies'
Item #: 7518
Zones: 6b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 72" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/21/2024Sold out -
Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy'
Item #: 4807
Zones: 5a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Himalayan Mountains
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Clematis integrifolia 'Lake Baikal'
Item #: 5937
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: Russia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Clematis ochroleuca 'Bald Knob'
Item #: 5943
Zones: 4b to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per
More Information About Fillers
Like the name says, filler plants are there to fill up space in a container garden. The term "filler" does not do these plants justice though. It would be better to call filler plants "accessories" or "accents" or "visual cement" but unfortunately none of these words rhymes with thriller and spiller and the focus groups did not like the alternative marketing term "presenters-cementers-descenters". Like any accent or accessory, filler plants for container gardening support the main theme of the container garden and highlight the main decorative element, the "thriller".
Container gardening is a versatile and delightful way to bring a touch of greenery and beauty to any space, no matter how limited. While the spotlight often shines on show-stopping thriller plants and cascading spiller plants, it's the unsung heroes known as filler plants that bring harmony and cohesion to your container arrangements. These unassuming plants play a crucial role in creating lush, well-balanced compositions that captivate the eye and elevate your outdoor or indoor spaces.
Choosing the Right Filler Plants
When selecting filler plants for your container garden, consider factors like color, texture, growth habit, and the specific growing conditions of your chosen location. Here are a few excellent choices for filler plants:
Salvia - With its vibrant spikes of flowers in hues of blue, purple, red, or white, salvia is a reliable filler plant that attracts pollinators and adds a pop of color to your containers.
Monarda (Bee Balm) - Known for its unique tubular flowers and aromatic foliage, Monarda adds both color and fragrance to your container arrangement, attracting pollinators along the way.
Lantana - With clusters of small, brightly colored flowers, lantana provides long-lasting blooms and attracts butterflies, making it an excellent choice for a filler plant.
Heuchera (Coral Bells) - These plants offer a range of foliage colors, from deep purples to vibrant greens, and they thrive in both sun and shade, adding versatility to your container garden.
Hosta - With their elegant and broad leaves, hostas are great filler plants that bring a lush and textured look to your containers, especially in shade or part-shade conditions.
Cyrtomium (Holly Fern) - If you're looking for a filler plant with interesting foliage, the holly fern's glossy fronds add a touch of evergreen elegance to your container garden.
Tips for Using Filler Plants Effectively
- Balance and Proportion: Aim for a balanced composition by choosing filler plants that complement the size and shape of your thriller and spiller plants.
- Color Harmony: Select filler plants that harmonize with the color scheme of your container garden. Contrasting or complementary colors can create captivating visual effects.
- Height Variation: Opt for filler plants with varying heights to add depth and dimension to your arrangement. This will prevent your container from appearing flat and monotonous.
- Maintenance: Consider the maintenance needs of your filler plants. Choose plants that have similar care requirements to ensure your container garden thrives.
-
Regular Pruning: Filler plants can become leggy over time. Regularly trim and deadhead to maintain their shape and encourage healthy growth.
Check out all our blog posts on plants for containers.