Designing in containers is fun and gratifying. It allows me to be creative and bold. Mixing colors, textures, and sizes while being mindful of similar water needs is key to ensuring long-lasting and stunningly beautiful plant arrangements. There are three design principles to keep in mind:
THRILLER: a thriller is a plant that adds drama to a composition, usually tall upright plants, these will provide interest either in the center or at the back of a container. Thrillers are often perennials with structural form that provide a backbone to a container. These are the eye-catching plants and often the starting point in a container design. In the design on the left, the client wanted to keep the Cordyline but everything else in it could go, so I designed around a Cordyline as the thriller, I then added a spicy Coprosma ‘Inferno’ on one side and a Westringa fruticosa ‘Smokey’ on the forefront as fillers.
FILLER: a filler is a plant(s) that is going to fill in the spaces either around or in front of your thriller. Most of the time these are foliage or flowering plants that provide a full or lush appearance to the composition. Fillers should complement the thriller without overwhelming it. Euphorbia hypericifolia is an excellent flowering filler that adds an ethereal look to a composition.
SPILLER: a spiller is a trailing plant that hangs over the edge of the container. In a centerpiece, these should be placed all around the container or in the front for a front view composition. I like using trailing Senecio succulents, Dichondra argentea for their silver cascading effect, Ipomoea batata for their colored foliage, and different variegated types of Hedera ivies.
Using the thriller, filler, and spiller planting technique is fun. However, understanding the growth habits of the plants you choose is crucial to their success and health. Consequently, choosing the right potting soil, the right
conditions for sun exposure or shade, and comparable water needs are as important as selecting the plants you love. From a design perspective, aesthetics is everything. So finding the right balance is always a creative a rewarding challenge, let me design the right style for you.
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