Filler Annuals and Flowers

Filler annuals and flowers are the mounding, colorful workhorses of any container planting. They nestle between your thriller and spiller, filling in gaps with color, texture, and density. That's what gives a container its full, lush, finished look. Because you plant annuals fresh each season, you can experiment with new filler flowers every year. That keeps your container combinations feeling fresh from spring through frost.

The number of filler annuals you need depends on your pot size. A 12-inch pot typically needs one to two plants, while a 14-inch pot looks best with two to three. For an 18-inch pot, plan on three to five plants for full, even coverage. Larger containers of 20 inches or more may need four to six or more plants. That level of coverage gives an oversized pot a truly complete, abundant look.

A vibrant window box filled with red geraniums, Supertunia® Mini Vista® Violet Star Petunia, and white flowers sits against a white-framed window with tall green grasses - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.
Close-up of Heart to Heart® 'Blushing Bride' Caladium, showcasing heart-shaped leaves in vivid pink, green, and white with striking veins - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Heart to Heart® 'Blushing Bride' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99

Heart to Heart® 'Bold 'N Beautiful' Caladium features lush leaves with green edges, creamy centers, and pink-red veins - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included. A cluster of Heart to Heart® 'Bold 'N Beautiful' Caladium with large, heart-shaped leaves—bright pink centers and green edges—thrives by a stone border in sun or shade, surrounded by mulch - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Heart to Heart® 'Bold 'N Beautiful' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99
Heart to Heart® 'Burning Heart' Caladium features large, heart-shaped leaves in reddish-brown with yellow speckles. This tropical houseplant stands out, while hints of green foliage and a black pot can be seen in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCHeart to Heart® 'Burning Heart' Caladium features large, heart-shaped red leaves with pink and white speckles that overlap to form dense, vibrant foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Heart to Heart® 'Burning Heart' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99

A cluster of Heart to Heart® 'Chinook' Caladium plants featuring large, heart-shaped salmon pink leaves with white centers and green borders, thriving in dark soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA beige speckled ceramic pot features the Heart to Heart® 'Chinook' Caladium, with large, heart-shaped salmon pink leaves accented by green and white veins spreading in various directions - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Heart to Heart® 'Chinook' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99

A close-up of Heart to Heart® 'Clowning Around' Caladium, showing its striking pink and green leaves in a pot, with purple and yellow flowers blooming in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.Close-up of Heart to Heart® 'Clowning Around' Caladium leaves featuring vibrant pink veins, green edges, and light pink and cream splotches for a striking tropical houseplant foliage pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Heart to Heart® 'Clowning Around' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99
A close-up of a Heart to Heart® 'Xplosion' Caladium displays heart-shaped, vibrant green and red leaves with white speckles in a black pot, surrounded by lush greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.The Heart to Heart® 'Xplosion' Caladium features large, heart-shaped leaves with green edges, deep red veins, and white splashes, presented in a textured light ceramic pot against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Heart to Heart® 'Xplosion' Caladium

$24.99
$24.99
Close-up of Heart to Heart® Heart's Delight Caladium leaves, featuring deep red centers and bright green edges. Their unique heart-shaped patterns make this colorful plant a stunning addition to any garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.The Heart to Heart® Heart's Delight Caladium features large, vibrant pink heart-shaped leaves with green edges, displayed in a beige decorative pot against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Heart to Heart® Heart's Delight Caladium

$24.99
$24.99
Heart to Heart® 'Va Va Violet' Caladium features large, heart-shaped leaves with pink centers, light green edges, and white and green speckles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCHeart to Heart® 'Va Va Violet' Caladium features vibrant heart-shaped leaves with pink centers and green edges with overlapping foliage that creates a striking, colorful display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Heart to Heart® Va Va Violet™ Caladium

$24.99
$24.99
The Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes) features striking pink and red speckled, heart-shaped leaves in a pot, paired with lush green foliage and small yellow flowers - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.A lush Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes) with vibrant red and green speckled leaves sits in a simple round light gray ceramic pot, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of a Hippo® White Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes), with green leaves dotted with white, surrounded by small purple and yellow flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Hippo® White Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes) leaves with white speckles, framed by small purple, pink, and cream flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Hippo® White Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of an Icicles Licorice Plant (Helichrysum) with silvery, spiky foliage grows in a garden bed, surrounded by lush green plants and purple leaves edged in yellow-green - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A potted Icicles Licorice Plant (Helichrysum) displays dense, narrow silvery foliage with soft, feathery texture and a few small pink flowers along the edges, accented by surrounding green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Icicles Licorice Plant (Helichrysum)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Laguna® Cloud White™ Lobelia features clusters of delicate white flowers with small yellow centers and slender green stems, offering a heat-tolerant, densely blooming display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A dark blue ceramic pot filled with lush green stems and white blooming Laguna® Cloud White™ Lobelia, set against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Laguna® Cloud White™ Lobelia

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of Laguna® Royale Lilac Lobelia displays light purple flowers with slender petals and green stems and leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A dark gray decorative pot holds a lush mound of Laguna® Royale Lilac Lobelia, featuring small light purple flowers and green foliage from Proven Winners, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Laguna® Royale Lilac Lobelia

$10.99
$10.99
A vibrant cluster of small, star-shaped pink flowers and slender green leaves from Laguna® Royale Pink Lobelia fills the image, showcasing this annual's colorful and lively floral display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A large ceramic pot filled with dense, pink blooming Laguna® Royale Pink Lobelia, isolated on a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Laguna® Royale Pink Lobelia

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of a dense cluster of vibrant electric purple Laguna® Ultraviolet™ Lobelia flowers with green stems and leaves fills the image with bright, cheerful color - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant electric purple Laguna® Ultraviolet™ Lobelia flowers with delicate petals and green stems, densely packed and blooming outdoors - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Laguna® Ultraviolet™ Lobelia

$10.99
$10.99

Brightly lit by sunlight, Luscious® Royale Red Zone™ Lantana displays clusters of vibrant red and yellow flowers with green leaves in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.The Luscious® Royale Red Zone™ Lantana features vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms among green leaves in a rustic stone planter - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Luscious® Royale Red Zone™ Lantana

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of Plum Dandy™ Alternanthera reveals lush, oval leaves in green and deep purple with a few bright pinkish-red ones. The densely clustered foliage is perfect for container gardening - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A large blue ceramic pot features lush foliage of Plum Dandy™ Alternanthera, highlighted by soft purple and white flowers—an eye-catching container garden displayed on a stone patio surrounded by greenery and rocks - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Plum Dandy™ Alternanthera

$10.99
$10.99

Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens display richly layered purple blooms amid soft-textured green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens with vibrant double purple blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Rockapulco® Purple Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of vibrant pink impatiens in full bloom, nestled among lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A rectangular metal planter filled with lush foliage and vibrant red Rockapulco® Red Double Impatiens - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rockapulco® Red Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens flowers in bloom, featuring green leaves and unopened buds next to open flowers. The delicate, layered white petals give the blossoms a full, textured look - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a single Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens, featuring rose-like white double blooms with soft, layered petals nestled among dark green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® White Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens features vibrant pink double blooms with white edges amid lush green foliage, offering a colorful display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens flowers with lush green leaves and buds. These vibrant double blooms have delicate purple veining, adding texture and rich color to shade garden containers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Rockapulco® Wisteria Double Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Two Rollercoaster Red Racer New Guinea Impatiens blooms features bright red, wavy-petaled blooms with glossy green leaves, thriving in sunlight - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of vibrant Rollercoaster Red Racer New Guinea Impatiens with red blooms and dark green leaves, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Rollercoaster Red Racer New Guinea Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of Rollercoaster Tangy Taffy New Guinea Impatiens, featuring vibrant pink ruffled petals and dark green leaves in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Rollercoaster Tangy Taffy New Guinea Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Rollercoaster Valraven Violet New Guinea Impatiens displays vibrant pink ruffled blooms with dark green, pointed leaves, thriving outdoors in bright sunlight. Mulch and other green foliage appear in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Rollercoaster Valraven Violet New Guinea Impatiens, with ruffled violet blooms and lush dark green leaves, creates a dense, colorful display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Rollercoaster Valraven Violet New Guinea Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99