Potted plants are an ever popular and achievable option for the home gardener, no matter what type of space you have at home, or what your gardening expertise level is. Using the “Thrill, Fill and Spill” planting rule, Melissa will give you all the tips and tricks to creating layered planting combos within the one pot, giving your garden that extra pop.
WATCH: Melissa shows you the thrill, fill and spill method
Put drama into your potted plants with a thriller, a few fillers and spectacular spillers – a neat trick for arranging varied plants in one large container. The rules of arrangement are simple. Pick a ‘thrill’ plant, the big, bold star of the show, then choose ‘fill’ plants as the supporting cast, giving contrast while complementing your feature act. Add ‘spill’ plants as the final touch to cascade over the pot. The arrangement makes a lasting impression, especially when given as a gift!
Combos that pop
Go big, bold and brassy with the bronzy hues of the thrilling cordyline surrounded by mirror bush, the bright orange pops of gaillardia and the silky wave of carex grass. Dainty bidens with their sunny faces drape the sides. It’s pretty and pretty eye-catching!
Foliage is the key here with all the shades of soft green, including the thrilling variegated dianella, its strappy leaves contrasting with the small shiny leaves of the variegated Hemizygia ‘Candy Kiss’, common daisy (Bellis perennis), Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’, big, fat grey-green senecio (S. candidans) tucked in behind , and then the spilling variegated lamium sweeping the side of the pot. The pot’s muted bronze colour blends with the soft greens.
Power and the passion
This is edge-of-your-seat drama with powerful pinks and deep purples in the form of thrilling lavender and the spilling Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum ‘Bobz Red’). Fill out with clusters of pretty white Arenaria sp, the punky pink spikes of Dreameria ‘Sweet Dreams’ and variegated Lamium ‘Beacon Silver’ giving the arrangement a lot of front! They all look stunning in a big, deep and brooding charcoal pot that highlights the pink and purple colours and makes the white flowers stand out!
Choose your plants
- Team plants that have similar needs in terms of water, sun exposure and feeding.
- Select a garden theme, such as wildflower, coastal, formal or desert.
- Combine plants that complement each other in colour and texture, or play around with opposites to create a dynamic contrast.
Healthy plants have a habit of growing taller and thicker. When this happens, use it as an opportunity to swap your plants for a new seasonal look. then plant your older ones in your garden or give them to a friend.
There’s no need to limit yourself to just pots. try these combos in raised garden beds, too.
Lime, yellow and little dots and splotches of red are a feature of this pot, where the plants are almost maintenance-free and are very drought tolerant. Start with a majestic pennisetum (P. purpureum), fill out with bristling Leucadendron ‘Strawberry Flair’, amazing Euphorbia ‘Rudolph’, the more dainty E. ‘Baby Charm’ and Carex ‘Frosted Curls’. The golden Sedum acre ‘Goldilocks’ spills enticingly down the side of the beautiful brown barrel.
Which container?
Make sure that your mix-and-match container is big enough for your display – a minimum of 40-50cm in diameter. It also needs to be at least 40cm deep to provide enough room for roots to grow.
You might also like:
How to add potted colour to your home
How to fix a trouble spot in your garden
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
