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.
Safari™ Dawn South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) is a heat-tolerant, trailing flower forming dense clusters of vibrant purple blooms with yellow centers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A round pot overflowing with Safari™ Dawn South African Phlox—heat-tolerant trailing flowers in pink, orange, and yellow star shapes - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Dawn South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
A garden scene with vibrant purple Safari™ Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia), a heat-tolerant trailing plant, nestled among lush foliage and white blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant purple Safari™ Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) flowers with yellow and red centers, surrounded by green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Safari® Dusk™ South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up shows Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with small lavender-purple blooms and yellow centers trailing from a blue planter on a sunny day, with green grass in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.A hanging basket showcases Safari™ Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia) with vibrant lavender-purple blooms featuring yellow centers and deep green foliage with some larger pink flowers in the center fo the basket - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Safari® Sky South African Phlox (Jamesbrittenia)

$10.99
$10.99
Rose Bacopa features vibrant purple-pink flowers with yellow centers and green leaves, creating a lively and colorful display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Snowstorm® Rose Bacopa (Sutera)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of Solera™ Dark Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) blooms with lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.A brown pot holds vibrant Solera™ Dark Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) flowers and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Solera™ Dark Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of a lone cluster of vibrant pinkish red blooms, the Solera™ Fuchsia Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) shine amid lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.A tan planter with vibrant pinkish-red blooms of Solera™ Fuchsia Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) sits on a stone surface outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery and garden flowers - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Solera™ Fuchsia Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of pink Solera™ Lavender Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) with green rounded leaves and vibrant pink-lavender blooms featuring subtle white streaks - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant pink Solera™ Lavender Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) flowers with green leaves and buds, patterned gray pots visible in tehe background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Solera™ Lavender Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)

$11.99
$11.99
Vivid Solera™ Orange Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) blooms stand out above lush green leaves with hints of magenta in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of vibrant Solera™ Orange Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) flowers with green leaves blooming in a white textured planter—an ideal drought-tolerant option for containers, set against wooden planks and gray stones. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Solera™ Orange Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)

$11.99
$11.99
Vivid scarlet blooms of the Solera™ Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) burst among lush, scalloped leaves, with unopened buds nearby. A blurred background suggests a flourishing container garden filled with greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Vibrant scarlet blooms of the Solera™ Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium) burst from a white textured pot, accented by lush green leaves and companion container garden displays in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Solera™ Red Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium)

$11.99
$11.99
Southern Blaze™ Bright Pink Phlox boasts clusters of vibrant five-petaled flowers atop green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.The Southern Blaze™ Bright Pink Phlox, with vivid blooms and lush green leaves, overflows from a deep red ceramic pot - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Southern Blaze™ Bright Pink Phlox

$10.99
$10.99

Clusters of Southern Blaze™ Red Hot Phlox bring bold red, heat- and drought-tolerant blooms to your garden, creating a lush scene of vibrant color among green foliage and accents of purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A planter filled with vibrant Southern Blaze™ Red Hot Phlox, known for its bright red and white blossoms surrounded by dark green leaves and displayed outdoors - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Southern Blaze™ Red Hot Phlox

$10.99
$10.99

Large green leaves with dark edges and pinkish-red centers from the Space Age™ Black Hole™ Rex Begonia are shown in front, while small clusters of purple flowers appear in the background for a striking shade garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Space Age™ Black Hole™ Rex Begonia leaves with jagged edges, displaying silvery-green tones, deep pink, and dark purple veins—an eye-catching shade garden plant - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Space Age® Black Hole™ Rex Begonia

$15.99
$15.99

A close-up of Space Age™ Europa™ Rex Begonia leaves with silvery-green centers, dark purple edges, and pinkish veins reveals unique spiral patterns and rich texture - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Space Age™ Europa™ Rex Begonia leaves. The green, pink, and purple foliage with textured surfaces and bold veins forms an eye-catching, colorful pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Space Age® Europa™ Rex Begonia

$15.99
$15.99
Sprengeri Asparagus Fern with feathery green foliage in a round, dark gray ceramic pot—an easy-to-grow annual ideal for pots or hanging baskets, shown here against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.A window box with Sprengeri Asparagus Fern, deep purple foliage, and pink flowers sits below multi-pane windows reflecting trees and warm light - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Sprengeri Asparagus Fern

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of 'Starblast Pink' Euphorbia, an annual featuring delicate pink and white bracts on slender green stems. The image captures the plant’s vibrant, intricate foliage in a striking floral display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Starblast Pink' Euphorbia features elongated green leaves mottled with dark and light patches, accented by small pink and white star-shaped flowers plus matching bracts, making it a striking annual for vibrant garden displays - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Starblast Pink' Euphorbia

$10.99
$10.99
Sunbini® Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia) features bright yellow, daisy-like blooms with green centers amid dense, dark green foliage. This heat-tolerant plant offers a vibrant display of buds and blossoms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of Sunbini® Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia), with bright yellow blooms and green leaves, fills the frame in a vibrant, cheerful display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Sunbini® Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of two Sunpatiens® Compact Blush Pink Impatiens with green leaves featuring reddish veins and serrated edges, highlighting their beauty and sun tolerance - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Sunpatiens® Compact Blush Pink Impatiens features clusters of five-petaled pink blooms amid dark green and maroon leaves, accented by light green and white foliage. These sun-tolerant plants bloom densely - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunpatiens® Compact Blush Pink Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of a single Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Red Impatiens featuring vibrant red petals and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Red Impatiens with vibrant red blooms and green foliage sits on a tiled floor by a wooden fence. The plant is in a decorative black and beige woven pot, ideal for container gardens - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Red Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Rose Impatiens featuring deep rose, five-petaled blooms with hints of purple at the edges, clustered among dark green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Rose Impatiens, featuring vibrant pink blooms with five overlapping petals and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Sunpatiens® Compact Deep Rose Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of a vibrant Sunpatiens® Compact Hot Pink Impatiens flower with five rounded petals and glossy texture, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A dark ceramic pot filled with blooming Sunpatiens® Compact Hot Pink Impatiens and lush green leaves sits on a wooden surface among other vibrant plants - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunpatiens® Compact Hot Pink Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Sunpatiens® Compact Lavender Impatiens feature vibrant lavender blooms with rounded petals and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Sunpatiens® Compact Lavender Impatiens features lush dark green leaves and vibrant lavender blooms, forming a dense, colorful display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunpatiens® Compact Lavender Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
A white, wavy ceramic pot holds lush green leaves and vibrant orange Sunpatiens® Compact Orange Impatiens - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.Two Sunpatiens® Compact Orange Impatiens with five rounded petals each bloom close together among glossy, dark green, serrated leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunpatiens® Compact Orange Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of a single Sunpatiens® Compact Pink Flash Impatiens bloom, featuring five rounded pink petals with a green center and subtle white gradient, heat-tolerant and isolated on a white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Close-up of several vibrant Sunpatiens® Compact Pink Flash Impatiens, heat-tolerant flowers with delicate pink petals and green leaves partly visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunpatiens® Compact Pink Flash Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
A cluster of vibrant Sunpatiens® Compact Purple Impatiens blooms amid green leaves and variegated hosta foliage, creating a striking display in a garden bed - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of vibrant Sunpatiens® Compact Purple Impatiens bloom amid yellow-green ground cover, with open fields and trees beyond - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

SunPatiens® Compact Purple Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99