Welcome to Part 2 of our Container 101 series — our guide to planting gorgeous containers for stunning summertime color. In Part 1, we focused on the basics of design, planting, and care. This time, we're digging into our favorite plants to compose your flower pot.
Remember — the basic formula for a container design begins with a Thriller and one or more Fillers and Spillers. While the thriller towers above the rest and adds a focal point to the entire arrangement, the filler creates a foundation and the spiller drapes out over the side of the container in an eye-catching waterfall.
For Sun
Thrillers
- Salvia (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Hot Lips,' 'Skyscraper' series, or 'Sallyfun' series
- Color Palette: Pink, purple, blue, red, white
- Juncus (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Blue Arrows’ or ‘Blue Dart’
- Color Palette: Blue, green
- Echinacea (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'PowWow' series or 'Kismet' series
- Color Palette: Pink, red, yellow, white
- Cordyline (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Salsa' or 'Spikes'
- Color Palette: Green, red
- Coreopsis (Part to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Uptick' series
- Color Palette: Yellow, red, cream
- Sedum (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Autumn Joy'
- Color Palette: Blue, pink
- Papyrus grass (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'King Tut'
- Color Palette: Green
- Digiplexus (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Berry Canary'
- Color Palette: Pink, purple, orange, yellow
- Achillea (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Sassy Summer Sangria,’ 'Moonshine'
- Color Palette: White, yellow, orange, red
- Penstemon (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Flock of Flamingos’
- Color Palette: Pink, red, white, blue
- Osteospermum (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Zion Pink Sun’
- Color Palette: Yellow, purple, pink, white
- Zonal Geranium (Part to Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Galaxy White,’ 'Rosalie Antique Salmon'
- Color Palette: White, pink, red, orange, purple
Fillers
- Petunias (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Blueberries & Cream,' 'Black Mamba,' 'Raspbery Star'
- Color Palette: White, yellow, pink, orange, red, purple, black
- Calibrachoa (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Neo Vampire,' 'Diva Apricot,' 'Uno Pink Star'
- Color Palette: White, yellow, pink, orange, red, purple
- Lantana (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Bloomify Rose,' 'Landmark Gold'
- Color Palette: Orange, red, pink, yellow
- Heuchera (Part Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Forever Purple,' 'Zipper,' 'Marmalade,' 'Glitter'
- Color Palette: Green, red, orange, purple, silver
- Campanula (Part Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Birch Hybrid’
- Color Palette: Green
- Armeria (Full Sun \ Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Vivid Dream,' 'Dreamland'
- Color Palette: White, pink, purple
- Dianthus (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Early Love,' 'Oscar Peach Edge,' 'Floral Lace Picotee'
- Color Palette: White, pink, purple, red
- Sanvitalia (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Tsavo Yellow Compact'
- Color Palette: Yellow
- Sunpatiens (Part to Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Orchid Blush,' 'Rose Glow,' 'Orange Electric'
- Color Palette: White, pink, red, purple
Spillers
- Bacopa (Part to Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'MegaCopa Blue'
- Color Palette: White, pink, purple
- Wire Vine (Part Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Creeping Thyme (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Pink Chintz,' 'Creeping Red'
- Color Palette: Green, red, pink
- Trailing Sedum (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Angelina'
- Color Palette: Green, yellow, pink, blue
- Alyssum (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Clear Crystal White'
- Color Palette: White
- Delosperma (Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Granita Raspberry,' 'Orange Vibe'
- Color Palette: Green, orange, pink
- Calibrachoa (Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Neo Vampire,' 'Diva Apricot,' 'Uno Pink Star'
- Color Palette: White, yellow, pink, orange, red, purple
For Shade
Thrillers
- Tassel Fern (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Ligularia (Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Desdemona'
- Color Palette: Green
- Coleus (Full Shade / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Kong Mix,’ 'ChargedUp Campfire,' 'Limewire'
- Color Palette: Green, red, orange
- Hosta (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Sum and Substance,' 'Halcyon'
- Color Palette: Green, blue
- Thalictrum (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Black Stocking’
- Color Palette: Purple
- Carex (Full Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Feather Falls,’ 'Ice Dance'
- Color Palette: Green, yellow, white
- Fuchsia magellanica (Part Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Aurea'
- Color Palette: Purple, pink, orange
- Bletilla (Part Shade to Part Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Shi Ran’
- Color Palette: Purple
- Hellebores (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Black Diamond,' 'Glenda's Gloss,' 'Berry Swirl'
- Color Palette: Pink, white, black, yellow
- Heliotrope (Part to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Marine'
- Color Palette: Purple
- Asparagus fern (Part Shade / Annual)
Fillers
- Impatiens (Part to Full Shade / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Salmon Pink,' 'Apricot Celebration,' 'Stardust Purple Fiesta'
- Color Palette: White, pink, red, purple
- Begonias (Part to Full Shade / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Solenia Salmon Coral,' 'Nonstop Joy Yellow'
- Color Palette: Pink, white, red, orange, yellow
- Heuchera (Part Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Forever Purple,' 'Zipper,' 'Marmalade,' 'Glitter'
- Color Palette: Green, red, orange, purple, silver
- Oxalis (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Plum Crazy,' 'Sunset Velvet'
- Color Palette: Green, purple
- Coleus (Full Shade / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Kong Mix,’ 'ChargedUp Campfire,' 'Limewire'
- Color Palette: Green, red, orange
- Lamium (Part to Full Shade / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Ghost,' 'Pink Pewter,' 'White Nancy'
- Color Palette: Purple, silver, green
Spillers
- Sweet Potato Vine (Part Shade to Full Sun / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: 'Marguerite,' 'Black Heart'
- Colors: Green, purple, black
- Torenia (Part Shade to Full Shade / Annual)
- Color Palette: Purple
- Coleus (Full Shade / Annual)
- Varieties to Try: ‘Road Trip,' 'Wedding Train'
- Color Palette: Green, red, orange
- Creeping Jenny (Part Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Aurea Gold'
- Color Palette: Green, yellow
- Creeping Charlie (Part to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Color Palette: Green, white
- Vinca (Full Shade to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Varieties to Try: 'Bowles,' 'Alba,' 'Illumination'
- Color Palette: Green, gold, purple
- Corsican Mint (Part to Full Sun / Perennial)
- Color Palette: Green
