Amy Draiss
Thriller, filler, spiller – it’s a classic recipe for mixed plant containers. This winning plant recipe incorporates three key plants of different heights and characteristics to showcase a unifying theme and color idea. There are plenty of ways to add individuality and creativity to this basic concept. Depending on where you live, the size of your container, and the ultimate pot location, your choice of thriller will usually be the focal point for the container, adding height and structure.
The best thriller plants for fall play to the full potential of any flowers and foliage you love to see during the season. Working as part of your thriller filler spiller ideas, these plants will complement your choice of container, work well in the eventual pot position, and give impact, support and unity to your selection of fillers and spillers. When creating fall containers, the right thriller plants can bring joy, impact, momentum and longevity when other parts of the garden are starting to fade. Select the thriller that works best for your taste and garden, then choose fillers and spillers to complement it. Here are 8 gorgeous thrillers for dazzling fall pots and planters.
Give your dynamic thriller plants a dazzling base with these seasonally stylish Classic Home & Garden Store Honeysuckle Tequila Sunrise Planters.
The Best Thriller Plants for Fall Containers
The best thriller plants for containers in the fall should be able to stand up to the cooler weather in your region. They should also be striking in some way: showcasing abundant colorful flowers, impressive height, or unique foliage. Ideally, these plants will present a dazzling point of difference with the rest of your container grouping, while also making sense of your other plant choices in some way – whether that’s through color, texture, or unusual shapes. You may prefer foliage or fall flowers for front porches, patios, balconies and pathways. Because these are for fall containers, thriller plants will often stand out for their bold seasonal tones and textures.
Consider your growing region and conditions when choosing thriller container plants for fall. Sometimes, late summer flowers and plants that work well in end-of-summer containers can be transitioned neatly into fall tubs – other times, you’ll need to add plants specifically for the longest season of autumn color. For example, if you have an early first frost date in your growing zone, choose plants that tolerate frosts. These 8 fall thriller ideas will help get you started planning container fillers and spillers for the ultimate autumnal pots and planters.
1. Angelonia
Angelonia angustifolia is a great thriller choice for warmer growing zones. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11, this perennial blooms through summer. Indeed, it is also known as the summer snapdragon. However, it continues to bloom through fall, providing continuous thrilling color up until the first frost, depending on the variety and the region. It grows up to 18 inches (46cm) tall, making it a fine centerpiece for a container gardening display. These can make tall thriller plants for containers in fall.
The flowers are reminiscent of snapdragons and grow on spikes in shades of pink, white, and blue. Their dramatic floral spikes add both height variation and visual flair to ‘thriller filler spiller’ arrangements. In colder zones, you can grow angelonia as an annual and still enjoy it in fall containers. You can grow Angelonia ‘Cascade Purple’ as live plants from Amazon.
2. Purple Fountain Grass
Ornamental grasses make great thriller plants for pots in fall. Purple fountain grass has a fundamental clumping habit that is well suited to the confines of a container. These grass varieties also have natural flair and stature, thanks to their feathery arching plumes of color and texture. They make great large outdoor plants for pots in the fall, as they create impressive reach and spread, and often have autumnal colors – burgundy, deep bronze, and rich purple. This ornamental grass is hardy in USDA zones 9-10, but you can treat it as a fall annual in colder climates.
This grass gets its name from its color, a rich burgundy stalk with purplish flowers, and its tremendous flowing shape. The flowers that appear in late summer and fall spill over in a fountain-like spread. Choose a filler that will stand out under its arching leaves, such as a brightly colored cockscomb or richly tinted mum variety. You can still buy Purple Fountain Grass as live plants from Nature Hills if you hurry, as they are selling fast.
3. False Sunflower
The false sunflower, also known as the ox eye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), comes in several varieties. Its late summer blooms extend well into September. These container thriller plants for fall can be encouraged to flower for even longer if you deadhead them. The daisy-like flowers come in dazzling autumnal shades of gold, orange and red, and can reach 4 feet (1.2m) tall.
This perennial beauty is hardy in USDA zones 3-9. Choose a variety with flowers you like and pair with white sweet alyssum for a lively contrasting spiller. False sunflower varieties like ‘Holspiegel’, with their golden yellow petals, will continue flowering well into autumn. Buy ‘Burning Hearts’ False Sunflower plants from Nature Hills for a long-lasting container thriller.
4. Anise Hyssop
Neither anise nor hyssop, agastache is a lovely choice for a fall thriller. Growing up to 4ft (1.2m) tall, anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) produces blue and purple flowers on tall spikes. Depending on region and variety, this elegant spike-blooming plant flowers well into fall. This hummingbird favorite is hardy in USDA zones 3-8, where you can grow it as a perennial, or treat it as an annual for your container.
Choose an anise hyssop variety with blue or deep lavender flowers, then contrast with yellow pansies and golden creeping Jenny for brightly contrasting fillers and spillers. Varieties such as ‘Black Adder’ (pictured) can flower into October if growing conditions and regional temperatures allow. You can buy Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ by Greenwood Nursery as live plants from Amazon.
5. Coleus
If you want to make foliage the centerpiece of your fall containers, a coleus is a true big-impact thriller. Coleus plants do flower, but you’ll want to pinch these off to encourage more of that dramatic foliage. The real showstoppers are the variegated, multi-colored leaves – in bold hues from chartreuse to chocolate, and every shade of pink and burgundy in between. They make fabulous low maintenance patio plants.
Coleus are tender perennials, but if you are careful, you can keep these gorgeous plants flourishing outside until first frost, then bring them indoors to keep them going for longer. There are lots of fall shades to accentuate a seasonal arrangement, incorporating rust red and even orange leaves. You’ll find lots of lovely coleus options at Burpee, including ‘Watermelon’ and ‘Chocolate Covered Cherry’ varieties. Grow a larger coleus in a wide container surrounded by small mums or coral bells in contrasting colors.
6. Japanese Painted Fern
Here’s another example of a foliage plant that makes a great fall thriller. These striking fronds remain healthy and vibrant until first frosts. Suitable for USDA zones 3-8, Japanese painted ferns reach 18 inches (45cm) tall and wide and are perfect for a shady spot. Their unique foliage is colored with variegated grayish green and burgundy tones, and seems to illuminate quiet corners with dazzling silver fronds.
This perennial beauty will become dormant over winter, but is relatively low maintenance and works with a great number of different tones and textures in a mixed fall container. Pair this fern with brightly tinted spillers and fillers that can tolerate some shade, such as lobelia, begonia or fuchsia. Buy highly rated Japanese Painted Ferns by Greenwood Nursery as live plants from Amazon.
7. Japanese Maple
If you’re looking for tall thriller plants for pots in fall, Japanese maples create some of the best autumn color trees and they are capable of putting on a very long season of vibrant tones. Many grow well in containers for years. Japanese maples are popular ornamental trees for their appealing growth habits, unique, deeply lobed leaves, and stunning fall colors which include red, orange, yellow, and purple.
You can grow Japanese maples in USDA zones 5-9. When growing Japanese maples in pots, choose a large container and select a smaller variety. Keep an eye on temperatures, shield roots from the risk of frost, and make sure the pots are well draining. Japanese maples such as the vibrant and slow-growing Acer ‘Bloodgood’ from Amazon will contrast nicely with a chartreuse spiller plant like sweet potato vine or creeping Jenny.
8. ‘Gold Cone’ Juniper
Finally, although you will be wanting to make a splash with rich autumnal tones, it’s also smart to consider evergreen thriller plants for fall. These evergreens are still capable of creating height, texture, and high impact. You can choose a small or dwarf tree for a container, and grow it year-round, changing out the thrillers and spillers for each season.
One of the loveliest junipers for containers is Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’ which only grows to 5ft (1.5m) tall. This lively evergreen has a columnar growth habit and golden foliage which is perfect for fall. It balances well with a broad range of spiller and filler combination colors, enhancing your autumnal options. For an alternative bright gold juniper that works well in pots, try Juniper ‘Saybrock Gold’ from Nature Hills.
Need more ideas for timely gardening jobs and seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!
