Elevate Your Patio with Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers

17 Nov, 2022

Unlock the secrets to crafting a show-stopping patio display with the power of thrillers, fillers, and spillers! If your outdoor area is looking a little bare, or you just want to add another pop of colour, this tried and true method will transform your space into a colourful paradise.

The thriller, filler, spiller method creates a perfectly curated, three-dimensional planting display. A thriller is the tall, striking centrepiece that serves as the focal point of your potted display, giving it height and the wow factor. Fillers add fullness and cover the spaces between your thrillers and spillers. Spillers trail and drape over the edges of your pot, creating a graceful, cascading effect.

Thrillers

The thriller sets the tone for your display, so it’s important to choose a plant that really stands out.

Tropical Impatiens

Add pops of vibrant colour to your pots with tropical impatiens. With large, vivid blooms in red, pink, white, and orange, tropical impatiens have a long flowering cycle and can provide colour for up to 10 months of the year.

Geraniums

With their vibrant, cup-shaped flowers, geraniums make an ideal, low-maintenance addition to your patio pots. They are available in a range of colours, and will provide a continuous display of blooms throughout the growing season.

Argyranthemum

Argyranthemum, commonly known as Marguerite Daisy, are a popular choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners. Available in a wide range of colours, they are continuous low-maintenance bloomers.

Spillers

The addition of a spiller plant to your pot softens the overall look and gives your arrangement a sense of depth and dimension.

Dichondra Silver Falls

With their distinct trailing habit and silvery, cascading foliage, Dichondra Silver Falls are a captivating choice for hanging baskets and containers. They are not only visually stunning but are also low-maintenance.

Bacopa

These low-maintenance plants bloom profusely, offering a continuous display of colourful blooms throughout the growing season. With dainty, star-shaped flowers and small leaves with a trailing habit, bacopa are the perfect spiller for your pots.

Lobelia

Lobelia are adorned with an abundance of small, vibrant blooms, ranging in colour combinations. They are easy to grow, and will bring pops of colour to your display for months on end.

Fillers

Fillers serve as the lush backdrop for your thriller that complements the focal point.

Calibrachoa

One of the most popular flowers for growing in pots, calibrachoa are available in a range of beautiful colours. Calibrachoa boasts a profusion of petite, bell-shaped blooms, making them an excellent choice as fillers for your pots.

Petunias

Flowering profusely throughout the warmer months, petunias are a gorgeous addition to your patio pots. Not only are they hardy and heat-tolerant, but they are perfect for filling in those empty spots in your containers, creating a vibrant display.

Marigolds

Marigolds have vivid blooms in yellows, oranges, and reds. As a filler plant, they add a burst of colour that perfectly complements the spiller and thriller, filling your container with vibrant and captivating beauty.

Planning, Positioning, and Planting

When planning your pots, consider the sunlight requirements of each plant you are choosing. Ensure they have similar preferences, so they can grow well together.


Before planting, consider the pot's location on your patio and position the plants accordingly for the best visual impact. After planting, gently firm the soil and thoroughly water.


When planting your patio display, use Kings Container Mix. In warmer months, add a handful of SaturAid to the soil, as this helps channel the water directly to your plants.

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