Thriller Plants for Containers

Thriller plants for containers are the stars of the show. They're tall, bold, and dramatic enough to anchor any planting and draw the eye straight to your container. In the classic thriller-spiller-filler formula, the thriller goes in the back or center to add height and visual impact. You'll find them in annuals, perennials, edibles, and shrubs, so there's a thriller to suit every style and season.

For containers between 12 and 18 inches in diameter, one thriller plant gives you the height and drama you need. It's the perfect starting point for any upright container planting. Larger containers over 18 inches may need two or more thriller plants to fill the space properly. When you use multiples, stick with the same variety as that repetition creates a cleaner, more intentional look.

A modern white planter filled with tall purple flowers, bright yellow blooms, small blue flowers, and green foliage, arranged in a vibrant, colorful display.
Close-up of pale purple 'Bobblehead' Allium flowers with thin petals blooming on green stems - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of 'Bobblehead' Allium, drought-tolerant perennials with long green leaves and tall stems topped by round pale white flowers, grows outdoors in a mulched, pollinator-friendly garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Bobblehead' Allium

$18.99
$18.99

A cluster of white Celestial White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by small, unopened buds and green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of blooming white Celestial White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) with pale yellow centers, showing layered petals and lush green leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Celestial White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A vibrant garden showcases tall, dark brown Copper Prince' Millet (Pennisetum) surrounded by yellow and orange flowers, forming a striking fall display with a white fence and red brick building in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.‘Copper Prince’ Millet (Pennisetum) is an ornamental grass with tall, dark purple flower spikes and vibrant leaves that thrives in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Copper Prince' Millet (Pennisetum)

$24.99
$24.99
Close-up of a vibrant red Cosmic Fireball Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, surrounded by several other red chrysanthemums in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Cosmic Fireball Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of a vibrant magenta Cosmic Galaxy Purple' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with layers of delicate petals and more similar flowers blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Cosmic Galaxy Purple' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of a vibrant pink Cosmic Lunar Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with several blurred pink flowers in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Cosmic Lunar Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of an orange Cosmic Meteor Bronze' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with layered petals and a dark red center, surrounded by other blurred orange flowers in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Cosmic Meteor Bronze' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up of a vibrant yellow Cosmic Solar Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, surrounded by similar yellow blossoms in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

'Cosmic Solar Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up captures vibrant yellow-orange 'Fireglow' Bronze Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, their densely layered petals and lush clusters highlighting the beauty of fall amid touches of green foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA dense cluster of vibrant orange and yellow 'Fireglow' Bronze Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms, with overlapping petals in full fall color and green leaves scarcely visible below. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Fireglow' Bronze Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A dense cluster of vibrant 'Flamingo Cranberry' Red Garden Mum blooms, with green foliage peeking through—these fall-blooming Chrysanthemums add brilliant color to any autumn landscape. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Flamingo Cranberry' Red Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A cluster of pale yellow and pink 'Flamingo Pineapple Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms amid green stems and leaves. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of 'Flamingo Pineapple Pink' Garden Mums (Chrysanthemum) features pale pink-tipped petals with soft yellow centers, set against lush green foliage. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Flamingo Pineapple Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A cluster of 'Flamingo Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers features yellow centers and dark green foliage, with some buds visible among the fully open blooms. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

'Flamingo Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of ‘Serendipity’ Allium features dense clusters of vibrant purple, spiky, ball-shaped flowers atop slender green stems - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of vibrant 'Serendipity' Allium, a perennial with globe-shaped purple blooms and tall green stems, grows outdoors in a garden with grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Serendipity' Allium

$15.19
$18.99 $15.19

Close-up of Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) blooms with yellow centers and long, narrow petals, set against lush green foliage for a fresh, vibrant look in a perennial garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) displays white, frilled petals and yellow centers among green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Amazing Daisies® 'Spun Silk' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)

$18.99
$18.99

A cluster of Autumn Sunset™ Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) displays vibrant orange and yellow blooms with bright centers and lush green leaves, creating a dense, colorful floral show perfect for fall gardens. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA potted Autumn Sunset™ Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) displays dense, vibrant orange and yellow blooms with green leaves in a terracotta-colored pot. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture

Autumn Sunset™ Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up of the Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis, a vibrant, compact clematis ideal for patio containers, featuring pointed petals and a cluster of dark purple and white stamens at its center, framed by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisClose-up of blooming Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis with delicate purple petals and intricate centers, set amid green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Boulevard® Tumaini™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99
Close-up of Color Coded® 'The Price Is White' Coneflower (Echinacea) showing white petals and vibrant orange-green centers, surrounded by green leaves, soil, and softly blurred small white flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up side view of Color Coded® 'The Price Is White' Coneflower (Echinacea) features white blooms with orange-brown centers and lush green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Color Coded® 'The Price Is White' Coneflower (Echinacea)

$28.99
$28.99

Three Color Coded® 'Yellow My Darling' Coneflowers (Echinacea) display green centers, long thin petals, and are surrounded by green foliage in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Color Coded® 'Yellow My Darling' Coneflower (Echinacea) features bright yellow petals, green stems and leaves, and large dark centers blooms in clusters, creating a vibrant outdoor garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Color Coded® 'Yellow My Darling' Coneflower (Echinacea)

$28.99
$28.99

Colorblaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus features trailing foliage with green-edged, deep burgundy centers, serrated margins, and a striking mix of light and dark patterns - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Colorblaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus shows trailing leaves with jagged edges, deep burgundy centers, and green-yellow borders. The dense foliage is vibrantly colored and very eye-catching - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

ColorBlaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Colorblaze® El Brighto Coleus features serrated leaves with bold tricolor foliage in red, orange, yellow, and green, creating a vibrant display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCThe Colorblaze® El Brighto Coleus, with bold tricolor foliage, thrives in a blue ceramic pot outdoors, creating a vibrant focal point. Other potted plants visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC. Decorative pot not included.

Colorblaze® El Brighto Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Colorblaze® Royale Cherry Brandy® Coleus features bright red, serrated leaves with burgundy, green, and deep purple tones for vibrant appeal - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCColorblaze® Royale Cherry Brandy® Coleus displays rich burgundy foliage with jagged edges and lighter red highlights - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Royale Cherry Brandy® Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus, a bushy foliage plant with bright yellow-green leaves, grows beside vivid magenta flowers atop mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA dense cluster of vibrant yellow-green, serrated leaves—Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus—is surrounded by dark green foliage and touches of pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of vibrant fiery copper-orange foliage from Colorblaze® Sedona Sunset® Coleus, with prominent veins and serrated edges, stands out among small red and pink flowers and green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA Colorblaze® Sedona Sunset® Coleus features fiery copper-orange, textured leaves in a light brown ceramic pot, set against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Colorblaze® Sedona Sunset® Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Clusters of vibrant red Dragon Wing® Red Angelwing Begonia flowers with yellow centers and heart-shaped green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA garden bed with lush green foliage and clusters of vibrant Dragon Wing® Red Angelwing Begonia blooms sits in front of a house, with a tree, shrubs, hanging baskets, and a porch visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Dragon Wing® Red Angelwing Begonia

$10.99
$10.99