Fillers

By: John Degroot

June 2 2012

Fillers - Garden Clippings for June 2, 2012

When choosing plants for containers, I look for thrillers, fillers and spillers.  Thrillers are the attention grabbing centrepiece plants that are usually tall and steal the show.  Spillers are the plants that are tucked in the edge of the container and are expected to cascade down.

Fillers are all the plants in between.  They take up most of the space in the pot and serve to connect the container and spillers below to the thriller above.

Fillers add mass to the container, often growing in a tumbling or mounding form.  They surround the feet of thrillers and cover the bare soil.

I like my containers lush and full, so I choose my fillers with as much care as the thrillers.  And I  don’t skimp on quantity, usually adding 5 or 6 fillers per container because I want them to do their job quickly.

Fillers can be as showy or subdued as you like.  For me, fillers are not neutral or insignificant but rather they are like dinner vegetables.  The steak or fish or chicken is the thriller, while the carrot, asparagus or beans are the fillers.

Let your imagination go when looking for fillers.  You might find that the fillers are so dramatic that you won’t need thrillers.  That’s especially true if you opt for monochromatic plantings rather than a mix of plants.  I usually go for variety of plants rather than putting all my eggs in one basket.

Coleus is one of my favorite fillers.  At one time, Coleus was reserved for the shade garden, but with the introduction of countless new varieties and colours, Coleus has become a staple for containers.  While the flowers of coleus are insignificant, the multitude of leaf colour and combinations is never ending.  I cut the flowers as they appear to encourage dense growth.  Coleus will grow in both sun and shade.

Verbenas are another favorite of mine.  They may not put on a spectacular show, but Verbenas are dependable and obedient.  They flower with little coaxing and will forgive you if you forget to water them for a day or two.  Verbenas can be found in white, pink, red and shades of blue.  Their spread is equal to their height.  Plant Verbenas in full sun.  If they begin to look tired in mid-summer, cut them back and they will flourish again.   

Lantana plants are an old garden favorite.  Their growth habit is much like a Geranium, or bush like, with a spread equal to height.  Lantanas love heat and when warm summer heat arrives, Lantana will be covered in bright blooms of yellow to orange.

When Million Bells was first introduced it was almost mistaken for a variety of Petunia, but with smaller flowers.  It has now been given its own name: Calibrachoa.  Million Bells produces hundreds of flowers in shades of pink to purple to red.  Plant them in full sun and pinch them to encourage dense growth.

If you can spare the space, try planting an herb or two in your container.  They won’t take up much space and they won’t give lots of colour, but they will give you a steady supply of taste for your  soup, Italian dishes and garnishes.

Everyone will have their own favorite fillers for containers.  Others that I have found rewarding are Spider plants, Dipladanea, Boston fern, Zinnia, and Geranium.