Whether you want to elevate your front porch or back deck, or add dimension to a sprawling garden, container arrangements offer a thoughtful design element that enhances any outdoor setting.
When creating your potted displays, you may think dramatic focal flowers and trailing spillers are the stars of the show, but filler plants are the key to lush, balanced arrangements. As the name implies, filler plants “fill in” the sparse areas between plants, adding texture and movement.
Ahead, a master gardener shares the filler plants she reaches for again and again when designing potted arrangements.
Meet Our Expert
Tabar Gifford, master gardener and resident soil expert at American Meadows, an online gardening retailer and educational resource focused on wildflower seeds, pollinator-friendly plants, and bulbs
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Related: 25 Creative Container Garden Ideas to Enhance Your Outdoor Space
01 of 08
Dianthus
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Dianthus (Dianthus) produces compact mounds of blue-green foliage and beautiful blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. “Dianthus is one of my favorite filler plants because it brings that perfect ‘cottage garden tucked into a pot’ feeling,” says Tabar Gifford, a master gardener at American Meadows. “Many varieties also have a spicy clove-like fragrance that gardeners can’t resist.”
In containers, dianthus softens the transition between taller focal plants and trailing spillers without taking up too much space. “It keeps pots looking lush and intentional rather than overgrown, and pollinators absolutely adore it,” Gifford says. Plant dianthus in full-sun containers and ensure the potting soil is well-draining. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage another flush of flowers.
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02 of 08
Sedum
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Sedums (Sedum spp.) are hardy plants perfect for low-maintenance container gardens. “Their succulent foliage comes in dusky blues, plums, soft greens, and golds, adding sculptural texture and season-long interest even when other plants take a break from blooming,” says Gifford. “I especially love upright and mounding sedums because they create fullness without feeling heavy.”
These drought-tolerant, full-sun plants create balance in arrangements with bold flowers and soft foliage, Gifford notes. As fuss-free as plants can get, sedums prefer leaner, drier conditions, making them ideal for container gardening, as pots dry out faster than beds.
03 of 08
Sea Thrift
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Sea thrift (Armeria maritima) adds a whimsical quality to container arrangements. “Armeria has this charming, seaside wildflower energy that makes containers feel relaxed and natural rather than overly polished,” Gifford says. “The grassy evergreen foliage forms neat little tufts, while wiry stems hold up globe-shaped blooms in shades of pink, lavender, and white that dance above the plant.”
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Sea thrift stays compact, making it an especially good filler option for smaller containers. It prefers full sun and excellent drainage. Once established, sea thrift tolerates drought and salty conditions with ease.
04 of 08
Mugwort
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One of Gifford’s favorite foliage plants for containers, she says mugwort (Artemisia) catches the light beautifully. “The soft silver foliage almost glows in evening gardens and gives mixed arrangements that dreamy, meadow feeling,” she says.
This plant softens container arrangements while adding movement and texture. “The finely textured foliage behaves almost like a neutral in container design, blending effortlessly with everything from hot-colored annuals to soft pastel palettes,” Gifford notes. Plus, it has a subtle herbal fragrance that will permeate your porch, patio, or deck. (Take note, however, that this is an aggressive grower and should be limited to containers only.)
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Mugwort thrives in full sun and prefers well-draining soil and moderate watering. It pairs well with sedums, lavender, dianthus, and other sun-loving plants, Gifford says.
05 of 08
Coral Bells
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For a shady porch or patio, coral bells (Heuchera) are the ultimate filler container plant. “Heuchera brings rich, velvety foliage to containers in shades of smoky plum, amber, silver, burgundy, and chartreuse,” says Gifford. “Even when it’s not flowering, it creates this lush woodland texture that makes shaded containers feel layered and alive.”
It gives containers a lush, grounded appearance, and looks especially eye-catching when paired with ferns, grasses, or shade-loving annuals, like impatiens and begonias. Plant coral bells in moist, well-draining soil and cut spent flower stalks to keep the plant looking fresh.
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06 of 08
Creeping Phlox
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Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is often grown as a ground cover plant, but Gifford says she likes using it in wider bowl planters, trough gardens, and alpine-style containers. “In spring, it absolutely erupts into a carpet of starry blooms in shades of lavender, pink, purple, and white,” she says.
Its creeping growth habit allows it to weave through neighboring plants, offering a meadow-like, care-free aesthetic. Its naturalistic appearance pairs well with grasses, sedums, and spring bulbs.
“Creeping phlox prefers full sun and sharply drained soil,” Gifford says. “It’s wonderfully low-maintenance and surprisingly drought-tolerant once established.”
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07 of 08
Coleus
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Coleus (Coleus spp.) is grown for its striking foliage that comes in combinations of burgundy, lime, copper, pink, chartreuse, and deep purple. “What makes coleus such a great filler is its ability to bridge everything together,” Gifford says. “It can either play supporting actor to flowering plants or completely steal the show on its own.”
An added bonus? Coleus is a fast grower that fills containers quickly. It grows beautifully in both sun and shade, depending on the variety. Keep the soil evenly moist, and prune back stems occasionally to encourage bushier, fuller containers.
08 of 08
Globe Amaranth
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As the name implies, globe amaranth (Gomphrena) produces globe-shaped blooms that float above bright green stems. Its colorful flowers bring movement and pollinators to containers.
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Gomphrena has a rounded habit, making it an ideal middle-layer plant where it adds fullness without becoming bulky. “I especially love using Gomphrena in naturalistic or pollinator-friendly containers where you want that slightly wild, meadow-inspired feeling,” says Gifford.
Give this plant full sun and well-draining soil and it will thrive throughout summer. “Once established, it’s wonderfully drought tolerant and blooms continuously with very little maintenance,” she says.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart
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