Spiller Plants for Containers

A spiller plant is the trailing element in a container. It cascades over the edge of the pot and adds softness, movement, and a finished look to any planting. In the thriller-spiller-filler formula, spillers work alongside taller thrillers and mounding fillers to create a full, layered container design. Because they trail naturally, they soften hard pot edges. That gives your containers that lush, overflowing look that catches everyone's eye.

The number of spiller plants you need depends on your pot size. A 12-inch pot does well with one spiller, while a 14-inch pot benefits from two. For an 18-inch pot, use three plants to get full coverage around the edges. Larger containers of 20 inches or more look best with four to five plants. That level of coverage creates a truly lush, cascading effect.

Grey pot with tall purple grass, purple blooms, and white flowers cascading over the side in a garden setting
A garden bed with green and purple leafy plants, featuring 'Purple Queen' Purple Spiderwort (Tradescantia) as a striking ground cover over stacked stone edging, surrounded by grass and rocks - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A decorative pot with vibrant yellow flowers and 'Purple Queen' Purple Spiderwort (Tradescantia) sits on concrete, surrounded by green ground cover in a lush garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

'Purple Queen' Purple Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of 'Sweet Caroline Light Green' Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea) shows its bright green, pointed, lobed leaves overlapping to create a dense, lush appearance - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up view of overlapping, star-shaped leaves of 'Sweet Caroline Light Green' Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea), forming a dense, lush, light green trailing appearance - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Sweet Caroline Light Green' Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea)

$10.99
$10.99

Variegata' Variegated Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus) features green leaves with white edges, creating a striking ground cover amidst bright yellow and deep purple flowers in a vibrant garden setting - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A bush of 'Variegata' Variegated Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus) with green and white-edged leaves, encircled by yellow and blue flowers, set amid lush ground cover and other greenery in a garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Variegata' Variegated Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus)

$10.99
$10.99
‘Variegata’ Variegated Vinca Vine (Vinca) trails from a black hanging planter, its green and white leaves contrasting with larger round foliage and a vivid yellow wall - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.‘Variegata’ Variegated Vinca Vine (Vinca) is a dense plant with oval green leaves edged in creamy white - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Variegata' Variegated Vinca Vine (Vinca)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of 'Wojo's Jem' Vinca Vine (Vinca) leaves with dark green edges and creamy yellow centers on slender stems. This dense, oval-shaped ground cover is deer resistant and adds texture to any garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Wojo's Jem Vinca Vine's dense, glossy green leaves with yellow variegation. The deer-resistant foliage features pointed tips, creating a vibrant, textured pattern - -

'Wojo's Jem' Vinca Vine (Vinca)

$10.99
$10.99

Autumnale Fuchsia features vibrant pink sepals and deep purple petals hanging from lush green stems - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of Autumnale Fuchsia shows its bright green and reddish leaves growing densely in sunlight, the colorful foliage stands out vividly against a softly blurred background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Autumnale Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of a Big Leaf Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia) with small, round green leaves set against a blurred blue pot and reddish ground - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA hanging basket filled with Big Leaf Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia) and vivid orange and yellow blooms is showcased in a lively garden with colorful flower beds, stone borders, lush ground cover, and a partly cloudy blue sky - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Hanging basket not included.

Big Leaf Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia)

$10.99
$10.99

Cluster of blue Blue My Mind® XL Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus) flowers with five petals each, surrounded by green leaves. The flowers have white stamens in the center and are densely grouped, creating a vibrant and colorful display in the foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A lush potted Blue My Mind® XL Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus) with vibrant blue flowers and green leaves, arranged in a textured dark blue pot, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Blue My Mind® XL Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus)

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of small, delicate white and pale purple Blushing Princess® Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia) blooms densely, with bright pink flowers and green leaves in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of small, delicate lavender and white flowers with yellow centers form a vibrant, soft display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Blushing Princess® Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Bossa Nova® Pure White Begonia flowers with creamy white and soft pink petals hanging from green foliage. A blurred green and pink background highlights these elegant, trailing begonias in the foreground - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA planter with Pure White Begonia, bright pink geraniums, and yellow-green trailing foliage is covered in water droplets - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Bossa Nova® Pure White Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant purple Bumble Bee™ Blue Calibrachoa, pollinator-friendly flowers with yellow centers among green leaves; some pink blooms are visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of a single vibrant Bumble Bee™ Blue Calibrachoa bloom with a yellow center, surrounded by green leaves and other flowers in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Bumble Bee™ Blue Calibrachoa

$10.99
$10.99

Bumble Bee™ Hot Pink Calibrachoa features bright magenta-pink blooms with yellow star centers and green leaves. These closely clustered Millionbells create a vibrant, colorful display as trailing annuals - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA round, dark planter featuring vibrant Bumble Bee™ Hot Pink Calibrachoa sits on a circular stone patio surrounded by lush green foliage and large stone decorations in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Bumble Bee™ Hot Pink Calibrachoa

$10.99
$10.99

Bumble Bee™ Orange Calibrachoa features vibrant orange flowers with red centers and yellow throats, surrounded by lush green leaves. Delicate veins accent these stunning millionbells, all showcased in glorious full bloom - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA gray flower pot displays a dense, rounded cluster of Bumble Bee™ Orange Calibrachoa, featuring orange and red blooms edged in yellow, all set against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Bumble Bee™ Orange Calibrachoa

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant Colorblaze® Cherry Drop Coleus leaves with deep burgundy centers, bright pink veins, and serrated lime green edges - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A potted Colorblaze® Cherry Drop Coleus with dense, trailing leaves in deep red, pink, and green shades edged in light green sits in a square beige container against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

ColorBlaze® Cherry Drop Coleus

$10.99
$10.99
A dense bush of Colorblaze® Mini Me™ Chartreuse Coleus, featuring spiky, narrow yellow-green leaves and bright green foliage, grows in a garden bed bordered by deer-resistant plants with green and purple leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of bright green, elongated, jagged-edged foliage with a glossy finish forming a dense, vibrant display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

ColorBlaze® Mini Me™ Chartreuse Coleus

$10.99
$10.99
A cluster of bright pink impatiens is surrounded by the vibrant green leaves with deep maroon centers and jagged yellow-green edges of Colorblaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA vibrant Colorblaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus with green, burgundy, and pink foliage grows densely in a round modern gray and taupe ceramic pot against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

ColorBlaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of the vibrant pink Cora® Cascade Cherry Vinca (Catharanthus) bloom with five petals, glossy green leaves, and a pink bud - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.The Cora® Cascade Cherry Vinca (Catharanthus) features vibrant pink blooms and lush green foliage; this drought-tolerant, trailing plant stands out beautifully against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Cora® Cascade Cherry Vinca (Catharanthus)

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of two Cora® Cascade Lavender with Eye Vinca flowers, each with five petals and pale yellow centers, surrounded by glossy green leaves. These drought-tolerant Catharanthus blooms stand out against a softly blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A drought-tolerant potted Cora® Cascade Lavender with Eye Vinca (Catharanthus) with numerous bright lavender flowers and glossy green leaves, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Cora® Cascade Lavender with Eye Vinca (Catharanthus)

$10.99
$10.99
A lush mound of Cora® Cascade Polka Dot Vinca (Catharanthus), prized for drought-tolerant blooms, cascades over a stone garden wall with vibrant red flowers and green grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Cora® Cascade Polka Dot Vinca (Catharanthus) features clusters of pale pink, five-petaled blooms with bright red centers amid dark green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Cora® Cascade Polka Dot Vinca (Catharanthus)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of a single Cora® Cascade Shell Pink® Vinca (Catharanthus) flower, featuring five petals and a darker pink center with a tiny yellowish spot, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Two pink Cora® Cascade Shell Pink® Vinca (Catharanthus) flowers with dark centers and five petals each, surrounded by glossy green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Cora® Cascade Shell Pink® Vinca (Catharanthus)

$10.99
$10.99

A trailing Cora® Cascade Violet Vinca (Catharanthus) with bright pink flowers and glossy green leaves spills from a black pot on a white background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.Close-up of a vibrant Cora® Cascade Violet Vinca (Catharanthus) flower with five petals and a small yellow center, set against a blurred green leafy background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Cora® Cascade Violet Vinca (Catharanthus)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Dark Eyes Trailing Fuchsia, showcasing deep purple and bright pink petals, with several buds and blooms set against lush green leaves in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Dark Eyes Trailing Fuchsia shows red outer petals and deep purple inner petals hanging from green stems against a blurred greenhouse background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Dark Eyes Trailing Fuchsia

$10.99
$10.99

The Decadent Annual Combination is a white hanging basket featuring a mix of vibrant petunias in purple, red, and white, accented by lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Decadent Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99

Close-up of Double Delight® Appleblossom Begonia flowers with pale pink and creamy white petals, soft yellow centers, and dark green foliage. This fragrant hanging basket plant has delicately overlapping, airy blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A beige ceramic pot brims with lush foliage and profuse white and pink Double Delight® Appleblossom Begonia blooms - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Double Delight® Appleblossom Begonia

$11.99
$11.99