Spikes

Spikes

Garden Clippings for May 30, 2026

For the tried, tested and true, the solution to an empty urn is 3 or 4 Geraniums with a spike in the centre. The combo has worked for decades, and it will work again.

Geraniums, more appropriately called Pelargoniums, for fear they get confused with perennial Geraniums, have been a staple in flower gardens as long as I can remember. Their tennis-ball-sized blooms in red, salmon, pink or white, are borne on tidy plants growing to about 50 cm in height.

Success with Geraniums depends on the gardener who will plant them in full sun and give plenty of fertilizer. I recommend using granular slow-release plant food every 6 weeks and water-soluble fertilizer bi-weekly. Geranium’s long-lasting flowers fade in a month or so and should be plucked to encourage more blooms.

If tradition holds true, the spike in the centre of the pot is a variety of Dracaena, with thin sword-like stems sprouting from a central base, then arching gracefully above the Geraniums. Not my favorite plant because when I was a kid, I gained a paper cut on my arm thanks to the sharp edge of a Draceana Spike.

When gardening in containers, we use thrillers to create wow factor. Fillers take up most of the balance of the container, while spillers are planted at the edge to cascade down the sides of the pot.

Draceana Spikes serve as thrillers in containers. Spikes are easy to grow in sun or shade, tolerating wet or dry conditions. Bring them indoors through winter and return to the outdoor container in springtime.

For a thriller plant that has greater impact, consider Red Star Spike. Its burgundy-coloured foliage is broader and showier than the traditional green spike and equally low-maintenance.

Banana Plants are thrillers with monster-sized leaves giving a lush, tropical vibe. Grow Banana plant in a large pot, at least 50 cm diameter, and watch it quickly grow to nearly 2 metres high. The impressive plant is always thirsty and enjoys weekly fertilizer.

Equally impressive, and related to Banana Plant, is Bird of Paradise, a more refined plant with long stems giving rise to big green leaves that dominate the container. Bird of Paradise is easy to grow indoors through winter and may reward you with a colourful flower resembling a unique tropical bird.

For a unique thriller, try King Tut, also called Egyptian Papyrus. Grassy stems grow straight up, producing a pompom whirl of thin stems above. If King Tut’s 150 cm height is too tall for your container, opt for Prince Tut, growing up to 80 cm. For yet a smaller version, switch to Queen Tut, rising to a tidy 50 cm. All the Tut series perform nicely as a thriller plant in the centre of a container with spiller plants at their base. Tut plants love boggy or muddy soil but are equally happy accompanied by sun loving annual flowers.