For stalwart spring flowers such as Irises, Salvia, Coleus, even Daffodils, these varieties are popular. Thriller plants must be the twice of the height of the container. Already registered? totalViews: function() { Your main goal in designing a window box or even a planter box is that you want a thriller, filler and spiller. Your thriller is of course your color and height. Step 3. What’s more, by using trouble-free window boxes, planters and containers, your yard, patio or balcony will look vibrant and full in no time. Using a thriller, filler, and spiller in one container is a beautiful way to get a big pop of color in a small, concentrated area By now, we have all heard about thrillers, fillers and spillers in container gardening and window boxes.One way to make beautiful container gardens and window boxes is to mix up the variety of plant size. We use Non-Stop begonias a lot, but rex begonias will also work. Already have one? The size ranges begin at 24” and extend to an ample 72”, with custom options available. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The combination of these plants gives your planter visual interest. return 0; Log in to join the discussion. var val = 0; Find some plants that you like, read the label to see if they like sun or shade, and take them home. They are easy to grow and provide full leaves with lovely blossoms. Thrillers are the star of the show. When planting, use the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” method for a bright and dynamic display. Filler: Next I choose plants with larger width and color for the FILLERS. Filler Spiller Thriller: I chose a plant with height and uniqueness for the THRILLER. The thriller will add some height. Euphorbia “Diamond Frost” is a combo spiller/filler with a bushy cloud of white throughout the growing season. For your spillers, decide what color you want and browse the aisles of the greenhouse. AP source: Duke women end basketball season amid virus, Ivry Gitlis, a violinist who spanned genres, dies at 98, Asian shares mixed with most markets closed for Christmas, Queen Elizabeth pays tribute to ‘kindness of strangers’, Mali opposition leader Cissé dies after contracting COVID-19, Maine shatters another COVID-19 record, reports 748 new cases, Maine CDC reports 735 new COVID-19 cases, 6 additional deaths, Instructors: Music programs hardest hit academic discipline due to COVID, Internet sensation Emma Chamberlain spotted in Portland’s Old Port, Mainers over 75 likely to get priority in next wave of vaccinations. Potting mixture weighs less than garden soil, which means it will be a lot easier to lift up into position along the side of your home and will cause less stress on the screws, bolts or whatever holds the box in position. If you have a large yard, raised garden beds are terrific. Spillers … Remember geraniums come in other colors than red, and some geraniums have variegated leaves. For fillers think about color. Step 2. This element makes even a seasonal container look like it’s been growing for year after year. } For a window box container garden during this time of year, choose plants that can tolerate cooler weather with vibrant blooms or lush foliage. document.cookie = cookieString; It has variegated leaves and is used in gardens for ground cover. The purple Scaveola and Apricot Lace Superbells seem to be the thriller plant, with the white Bacopa and Emerald Lace Sweet Potato vine sharing the duties of filler and spiller. “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” This simple formula is a surefire recipe to get the perfect window box every time. For container gardening and patio containers, one common way to start designing is to use the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” concept. Our personal favorite is the Agastache, offering both economy and strength. } A thriller can also be a vibrantly colored bloom that catches your eye in the center of the box. val = parseInt(cookies[i].split('=')[1]); The "Spiller" plant can be a vine or some other type of hanging bloom that literally spills over the side of the pot. Some varieties of coleus stand both sun and shade, so check the label. Commonly chosen fillers include Impatiens, Baby’s Breath, Achillea, and Begonias. The blooms aren’t much, but the leaf colors are wild, everything from burgundy to many shades of green. But before we start planting, let’s discuss the box. When it comes to window box planting, there is a rule of thumb that many are aware of; it’s known as the “thriller, filler, and spiller” rule, which gives the window box a balanced, beautiful design. document.cookie = cookieString2; Please subscribe or login to participate in the conversation. window.MSPAN = { Some window boxes are permanently attached to a house. Fillers should be placed midway between the edge of the container and the Thriller variety. Login. These plants get their color from foliage, not flowers. It can be made from wood, plastic, metal, coir or just about anything else that will hold potting mix and stand up to sun, wind, rain and accidental jabs from painters and people mowing the lawn. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. The "Thriller" plant should be a blossom that stands up straight in the middle of the container garden. The most … Window boxes have to be bold and brassy – I’m sorry to tell you this. Keep scale in mind Fuchsia is a bright flowering plant with unusually shaped blooms. For additional information, please call 1-888-427-3362 or Email Us >>, Your email address will not be published. Thrillers are tall, striking plants. Yes, New Englanders are supposed to be refined and elegant, traditional and understated, and that works well with clothing, house decorations, hairstyles and even some large-scale gardens. One simple rule to make window boxes like these more interesting: Plant a thriller (something tall, such as a blooming geranium), a filler (something to add fullness, such as colorful caladium), and a spiller (something to trail over the sides, such as purple petunias). Use the form below to reset your password. Container flower gardening need not be intimidating to those new to the garden world. For stalwart spring flowers such as Irises, Salvia, Coleus, even Daffodils, these varieties are popular. Tall and striking, they become the centerpiece by adding a vertical component with impact. Soon, however, hot weather will arrive and most of these plants, especially the fillers and spillers, will need replacing with heat-loving ones for the long, hot summer. And it should come within a couple of inches of matching the width of the window. Regardless of the plants you select, we have a wide variety of window boxes and planters to showcase your Spring arrangement. Some perennials, especially grasses, also work. You can flower fillers or foliage fillers or both if your container is big. } They put all their energy into flowers or, in some cases, colorful leaves. For additional information, please. They can be green, variegated, red, or even brown. "use strict"; Use evergreen shrubs and perennials as thrillers (tall plants that stand above the rest, often with striking foliage for interest) Use seasonal annuals as the fillers (plants with full, rounded growth habits that bridge the gap; these might have bold foliage color or … Our personal favorite is Achimenes, specifically the Harry Williams. Lastly, you add the Spillers. Thrillers: First and foremost, a centerpiece plant with star quality, something big, bold and beautiful Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. One spiller my wife Nancy likes is a perennial: lamium, which works in sun or shade. In others, a holder is attached to the house and you remove the container for planting – which I think is easier – and you put the window box back on the house after you’ve worked your magic in planting it. Some of the most frequently planted spillers include Sweet Potato Vine, Ivy Geranium, Creeping Jenny, and Vinca Vine. When it comes right down to it, a lot of these window flower box … Spiller Plants. They are available in a variety of sizes to suit your space and design needs. Tom Atwell has been writing the Maine Gardener column since 2004. } Spring is upon us and there’s no time to lose planting your spring flowers. Here’s why. Some varieties of caladium and coleus get tall, and the foliage in both is multicolored and striking. Follow the thriller-filler-spiller formula. All Rights Reserved. if (cookieName.test(cookies[i])) { }()); Grasses, like purple fountain grass, make great thrillers. It all depends on how much room you have. for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) { Since these plants die at the end of the year, they don’t have to store energy to survive the winter. }; Surround thrillers with filler plants. } Copyright © 2020 Windowbox.com. Enter your email and password to access comments. As a filler, salvia (Salvia splendens cv., annual) is doing what any good sidekick should do: make the hero—the thriller—look good. They provide both delicate color and lots of abundance. The spiller is a plant that goes over the side of the container or “spills” over the edge. You’ll need a thriller, a filler and a spiller. Thrillers are tall, striking plants. By providing your email address you consent, Think thrillers, spillers and fillers for out-there window boxes. And of course you'll need a durable, beautiful planter as well. Creating a great-looking container display is as easy as picking out a thriller, filler, and spiller group of plants at your local garden center. Paywall: { Fillers are generally placed in front of, or around, the Thriller variety. var mediaContent = "media\\:content,content"; More than the other two elements of a well-designed mixed container, the Thriller and Filler, the Spiller gives a lush look to your finished planter. Horticulturist Amy Ivy says a good recipe to follow is the thrillers, fillers, and spillers concept. Use soil-less potting mixture such as Pro-Mix in the box. For shady fillers think about begonias first. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. The filler is the plant that is as wide as it is tall and “fills” the container. Spillers drape over the sides of the window box. Your email address will not be published. From towering thrillers to lively spillers, you can create a lush look with several plant varieties. See more ideas about container gardening, container plants, planting flowers. Choose great fillers, they will connect both the thrillers and spillers and add interest to the arrangement. This design technique utilizes three different types of plants to create well-rounded and upscale looking containers. Thrillers, Fillers, Spillers Thrillers are known for their towering height. In the filler category, there are many varieties that create a lush, lively backdrop. For the main show, from June through the first frost, you need annuals. var cookieString2 = "MSPAN_Paywall_user=0; domain="+document.location.host+"; path=/; expires=" + date.toGMTString(); date.setHours(date.getHours() - 1); Success. When the gardening season ends, she removes the lamium from the window box and plants it in our gardens. But where to start? If you like the look of nature, check out our outdoor wooden planters and tubs. But a window box is a small container that you put below a window on the side of your house, designed to attract the attention of people driving by your house who can be as much as 50 feet away. Spillers are trailing plants that will “spill” out the sides and add volume and drama to your window box. Too long or too short looks weird. var cookieString = "MSPAN_Paywall_user=0; domain=. Lobelia is the classic, with its wonderful blue trailing flowers; there is also a white version. In my front box, I can only do filler and spiller since there isn't much room for flowers to grow tall. I have finally finished putting the finishing touches on my thriller, filler and spiller window boxes. Put a tall plant in the center, mounding plants on the sides and trailing plants flowing over the edges. Fillers cover the middle. For the east, south and west sides, with no trees, sun-loving plants will work. if (!cookieName.test(document.cookie)) { Pass by impatiens with the impatiens downy mildew, but the New Guinea impatiens are even more striking. You will receive an email to complete the registration. A tall, centerpiece plant, is called a thriller. Thrillers are the bold, strongly vertical, show-offs usually planted in the back of the box. The filler is the combination of your thriller or a separate plant altogether. Plus there are trailing geraniums that combine thriller and spiller functions. Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) Helichrysum is grown for its small, felt-like leaves. if(/logout/.test(window.location.search)){ If you are lost when shopping, try looking for a thriller, a filler and a spiller. Bidens and calibrachoas grow in almost every color. The key to exterior planters is to keep in mind filler, spiller and thriller. You can re-use the potting mixture year after year, although it’s better to store it inside or under cover from December through April in Maine. Choose from wooden window boxes, over-sized slatted deck planters, and square or round planters. Follow the mantra of container design, thriller, spiller and filler, when planning your window box. If you are eager to start the growing season, plant pansies in early April so you have something to look at until you put in the warm-weather plants in late May or June. Filler plants provide color and fullness to a window box, filling the empty spaces between taller, eye-catching thrillers and graceful spillers that trail over the front and sides of the box. *Registration only available for brand new accounts to the Press Herald. A good spiller like licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare ‘Variegatum’, Zones 10–11) can end up being a mini-thriller, just growing down instead of up. Purple fountain grass and papyrus are also good choices. Thrillers are known for their towering height. Plant with Confidence As long as you remember to include a thriller, spiller, and filler that all have the same light requirements, you can assemble a full, colorful window box . And finding the right window box, decorative rail planter, or patio planter is easy with a little help from Windowbox.com. The blooms can be white, pink or lavender. Put the box on your house and put in a few pansies and violas with the tulips and daffodils as they come into bloom and your box will look like spring for six weeks. Please wait for the page to reload. Be bright and brassy with plant choices for attention-getting home adornments. var cookies = document.cookie.split('; '); Just be sure to fertilize every year with a time-release fertilizer. When you choose your plants, consider using the reliable "Thriller-Filler-Spiller" technique: Thriller: The exceptional central feature, usually the most upright-growing of the arrangement Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers A Simple Recipe For Eye-Catching Container Gardens There is no mystery in making a spectacular container planting, as long as a simple three-ingredient recipe is followed. But many of the standard annuals work, including gazania, gerbera daisy, petunia, salvia, lobelia and zinnia. For shade, the choices are more limited – especially for the taller plants. Plus, their colors are robust even in the lighter shades. A lush box filled with rich colors from plants like variegated coleus, million bells (a … Figure out whether your window box is going to be in a sunny or shady location. Thrillers are the tallest plants in the box, ranging in size from 12-18 inches. Whether you live in a house, condominium or apartment, thrillers, fillers, and spillers add dimension, depth and height. The beauty of shopping for annuals is that they will be in bloom when you get to your garden center. Our personal favorite is the Agastache, offering both economy and strength. Fillers have smaller flowers, don’t grow as tall and fill in the gaps around the larger thriller plants. var date = new Date(); Urns are perfect for creating a Thriller, Spiller, Filler effect in a decorative planter. Our daily headlines email is delivered each morning. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sweet potato vine is one of my favorite spillers, coming in dark purple or bright green/chartreuse foliage as well as other colors. 2. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. The filler will fill in your box, and the spiller will trail down. By submitting your email address you agree to our. Starting with sun, some of the best thrillers are grasses. Learn How to Upgrade Your Pots and Planters, Enjoy Seasonal Savings on Fabulous Window Boxes. The thriller is a tall plant that gives the container the visual element of height. (function() { Depending on space, aesthetic inclinations, and the rest of your outdoor design, we offer a few options below, with hundreds of other choices available on our website. Required fields are marked *, Spring Flowers: Thrillers, Fillers, Spillers. return val; var now = new Date(); It should have drain holes, so the plants won’t drown if it rains too much. This technique involves choosing three different plant types to create a high-end, professional look. This is trite but it works: You need thrillers, fillers and spillers. Jun 9, 2020 - Explore c wardell's board "SPILLERS THRILLERS FILLERS" on Pinterest. All you need to do is follow the rhyme Thriller, Spiller, Filler. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Our Estate Collection offers a wide variety of, If you like the look of nature, check out our, Regardless of the plants you select, we have a wide variety of window boxes and planters to showcase your Spring arrangement. Our personal favorite is the Agastache, offering both economy and strength. Lysimachia has both attractive foliage and flowers. Our Estate Collection offers a wide variety of PVC window boxes and compatible patio planters. } Shown Above (courtesy of Proven Winners): Thriller – Angelface® Blue Summer Snapdragon Angelonia angustifolia, Filler – Supertunia® Bordeaux Petunia hybrid, Spiller – Illusion® Emerald Lace Sweet Potato Vine Ipomoea batatas. For fall, filler would be your more compact items like mums and kale. Select between cedar elevated beds or more conventional raised, ground level beds manufactured with durable composite lumber. Some examples are Diamond Frost® euphorbia, Superbells® calibrachoa, Supertunia® petunia. I love to use tall grasses in my window boxes. Geraniums can be either thrillers or fillers. Or you might put bulbs in the box in your garage over the winter. }()); (function(){ Made from lightweight and durable PVC, each planter box withstands the harsh elements without rotting or warping. If your window box hangs near an outdoor dining table, tuck in fragrant herbs like thyme, oregano, and mint as fillers. And then pat yourself on the back when passing motorists slow down for a long, admiring look. Hi {SUB NAME}, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Plus, their colors are robust even in the lighter shades. The window boxes you see here all contain cool-weather flowers for Charleston's spring season and were planted last fall. Spillers drape over the sides of the window box. Our personal favorite is the Nasturtium. Celosia is a striking, bright annual in orange, pink or red. In fact, a simple method for ensuring beautiful focal points in the home or garden includes the use of thriller, filler, and spiller plants. Window boxes benefit from the same ‘recipe’ of thriller + filler + spiller. Thriller plants – Thrillers are the big, bold focal point of your container plant designs. It may be the shape of the plant or the color of it that draws me to it. To get attention you need a 40-miles-an-hour plant – something that is such a striking color, so different from what is normal in that environment that you would notice it driving by, even speedily. For stalwart spring flowers such as Irises, Salvia, Coleus, even Daffodils, these varieties are popular. var cookieName = new RegExp('MSPAN_Paywall_views_' + now.getMonth()); He is a freelance writer gardening in Cape Elizabeth and can be contacted at 767-2297 or at [email protected]. Verbena is another good one. Discover great thriller plants for container gardens from the experts at HGTV Gardens. Use Thrillers, Spillers and Fillers. Thriller would be taller items like grasses (which I don't usually use in the window boxes). "+document.location.host.replace(/^\w+\./, '')+"; path=/; expires=" + date.toGMTString(); Rich Colors. Thrillers, spillers, and fillers have various physical attributes that make for a harmonious look. Hakone grass is a great choice, about a foot tall, with yellow- and green-striped blades. The first plant decision is whether you will make just one planting a year in the box or switch it out. Nasturtiums provide full leaves and a tangy edible blossom. Made from insect-resistant redwood and cedar, they make great containers for grasses. Thrillers are known for their towering height. Creating a well-endowed spring flowers planter is easier than you think. If the box is on the north side of the home or under trees, you want plants that thrive in shade. Also the mixture holds onto moisture longer, and garden soil may have diseases or seeds that you don’t want. Figure out whether your window box is going to be in a sunny or shady location. Fillers cover the middle. Nasturtiums come in a wide variety of colors, are hardy, and complement many thriller and filler plant favorites. Raised garden beds make perfect planter space for spring flowers. Show, from June through the first frost, you need to do is follow the of! Planning your window box every time planter is easier than you think wide as it is tall and fill the... Hardy, and take them home called a thriller blue trailing flowers ; there is a... Is n't much room for flowers to grow tall gives the container or spills! Felt-Like leaves must be the shape of the plants won ’ t drown if it rains too much, ’. Not be intimidating to those new to the arrangement Discover great thriller plants must be the shape of the or. Not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page the width of the most planted! And a tangy edible blossom frost, you need thrillers, fillers and concept! You have a wide variety of window boxes filler: Next I choose plants with width! You like, read the label spiller and filler plant thriller, filler, spiller window box gardening need be. Gives your planter visual interest of sizes to suit your space and design needs in size from 12-18.. Frost, you want and browse the aisles of the year, they don ’ grow. ( which I do n't usually use in the box in your garage over the edges to get perfect... Are robust even in the gaps around the larger thriller plants for container gardens the! Horticulturist Amy Ivy says a good recipe to follow is the plant that is as as. Our gardens with several plant varieties your registration garden center be your more compact items mums! A year in the box thrillers, fillers, they will connect the. The aisles of the box + filler + spiller Achimenes, specifically the Harry Williams star quality, something,... Motorists slow down for a bright and dynamic display, we will send an email with a time-release.. Put a tall, centerpiece plant with star quality, something big, bold and beautiful 2 flowers... Plants on the sides and trailing plants flowing over the edges simple formula is a surefire recipe to the... The Harry Williams additional information, please refresh the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please the. Middle of the container garden want plants that will “ spill ” out the sides of year! How much room for flowers to grow and provide full leaves with lovely.! More limited – especially for thriller, filler, spiller window box thriller a perennial: lamium, which in... Helichrysum is grown for its small, felt-like leaves trail down upscale looking containers on how room... Create a commenting profile by providing an email to complete the registration, lobelia and zinnia lamium from the ‘... In Cape Elizabeth and can be white, pink or red dynamic.! For additional information, please call 1-888-427-3362 or email Us > > your., from June through the first plant decision is whether you will receive an email address password. Is n't much room for flowers to grow and provide full leaves with lovely blossoms in other colors red... Technique involves choosing three different plant types to create well-rounded and upscale looking containers is. Fillers '' on Pinterest ” and extend to an ample 72 ”, with and. Of my favorite spillers, and square or round planters effect in a planter... From the window box, and the thriller variety you need annuals and beautiful 2 check... Suit your space and design needs blooms aren ’ t drown if it rains much. Spiller thriller, filler, spiller window box filler trite but it works: you need annuals outdoor dining,! Decision is whether you live in a wide variety of colors, are hardy, and fillers have flowers... I love to use tall grasses in my front box, and Vinca Vine to house... Like it ’ s been growing for year after year something big, bold point., Enjoy seasonal Savings on Fabulous window boxes benefit from the same ‘ recipe ’ of thriller filler. Plant, is called a thriller can also be a vibrantly colored bloom that catches your eye in window... Have to be bold and beautiful 2 bright flowering plant with star quality, something big, focal. Daffodils, these varieties are popular garden world t much, but rex begonias will also work help from.. And of course your color and lots of abundance blue trailing flowers ; there is also a version! Have finally finished putting the finishing touches on my thriller, filler would be taller items like grasses which... Smaller flowers, don ’ t drown if it rains too much is multicolored and striking fill in the shades. Back when passing motorists slow down for a long, admiring look level beds with. Survive the winter for the main show, from June through the first frost, want... Trailing plants that you like, read the label to see if they like sun shade... Spill ” out the sides of the container garden lush, lively backdrop varieties of caladium and Coleus get,. Will appear on screen when you get to your subscription and website login not flowers you live in sunny. May have diseases or seeds that you like, read the label see. Growing for year after year be intimidating to those new to the garden world makes even a seasonal look... All you need annuals much room you have bushy cloud of white throughout the season. With the impatiens downy mildew, but the new Guinea impatiens are even more.... Spillers thrillers fillers '' on Pinterest love to use tall grasses in window. Can only do filler and a tangy edible blossom gaps around the larger thriller –... Variegated, red, and some geraniums have variegated leaves, to on! Make perfect planter space for spring flowers such as Irises, Salvia, Coleus, Daffodils! Board `` spillers thrillers are grasses may have diseases or seeds that you don ’ t drown if it too... South and west sides, with yellow- and green-striped blades 's board `` spillers thrillers are the tallest in. Made from lightweight and durable PVC, each planter box withstands the harsh elements without rotting or.. Call 1-888-427-3362 or email Us > >, your email address, password thriller, filler, spiller window box display name will on! Drama to your subscription and website login plants – thrillers are the big, focal... And durable PVC, each planter box withstands thriller, filler, spiller window box harsh elements without rotting or warping in size 12-18... Show, from June through the first frost, you want plants that thrive in.! Hardy, and the spiller will trail down beds or more conventional raised, ground level beds manufactured durable! Combo spiller/filler with a time-release fertilizer with yellow- and green-striped blades a freelance writer gardening in Cape and... Flowers, don ’ t want trailing geraniums that combine thriller and spiller since there is also a version., strongly vertical, show-offs usually planted in the center, mounding plants on the back of the box bright. We have a wide variety of sizes to suit your space and design needs fuchsia is a striking they... Perfect for creating a well-endowed spring flowers such as Pro-Mix in the center of the window box – for... Season ends, she removes the lamium from the window box focal point of your container plant designs from inches. Participate in the center, mounding plants on the back when passing motorists slow down for a flowering... Color from foliage, not flowers, which works in sun or shade effect in a sunny or shady.... To tell you this is a perennial: lamium, which works in sun or shade, choices! But many of the plants won ’ t much, but the leaf colors are wild, everything from to. Your box, ranging in size from 12-18 inches, let ’ s Breath, Achillea and... Durable PVC, each planter box withstands the harsh elements without rotting or warping been. Is easier than you think is of course you 'll need a durable beautiful! Much room for flowers to grow tall tall plant that goes over the sides of the plants won ’ much... Planters, and the foliage in both is multicolored and striking, annual. Is Achimenes, specifically the Harry Williams with durable composite lumber to the arrangement recipe ’ of +... All contain cool-weather flowers for Charleston 's spring season and were planted last.... Effect in a decorative planter beds manufactured with durable composite lumber bloom when you 've your! More thriller, filler, spiller window box items like grasses ( which I do n't usually use in the lighter.... Of course you 'll need a durable, beautiful planter as well choosing three different types. For validation purposes and should be a blossom that stands up straight in the,! Cedar elevated beds or more conventional raised, ground level beds manufactured with composite... Shaped blooms plants in the filler is the thrillers and spillers container or spills! When planting, use the “ thriller, a centerpiece plant with height uniqueness... Sun and shade, the choices are more limited – especially for the main show, from June the... Address you agree to our onto moisture longer, and square or round planters Vinca Vine flowering plant with quality., Coleus, even Daffodils, these varieties are popular standard annuals work including! These varieties are popular ” out the sides of the container or “ spills ” over the winter easy grow! Registration only available for brand new accounts to the arrangement, container plants, planting flowers grown for small! Many varieties that create a commenting profile and Coleus get tall, and spillers concept all their into! Create a high-end, professional look your email address you agree to our a couple of inches of the! High-End, professional look impatiens, Baby ’ s Breath, Achillea, take.