Thriller Plants for Containers

Thriller plants 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 at Garden Crossings, so there’s a thriller to suit every style and season. Find the right thriller for your garden!

A modern white planter filled with tall purple flowers, bright yellow blooms, small blue flowers, and green foliage, arranged in a vibrant, colorful display.
A close-up of a bright yellow Miss Sunshine' Sunflower with a dark brown center, surrounded by green leaves and other blurred sunflowers in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Three yellow Miss Sunshine' Sunflowers with dark brown centers growing in a black nursery pot, photographed on a clean white background. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Miss Sunshine' Sunflower (Helianthus)

$14.99
$14.99
Pale yellow and white Moonglow White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green buds and leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of blooming white Moonglow White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) with yellow centers surrounded by green buds and dark green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Moonglow White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$10.79
$11.99 $10.79
A cluster of 'Moonglow Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, featuring vibrant yellow petals surrounded by green buds and foliage. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture A dense cluster of bright blooms, the 'Moonglow Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) showcases vivid moonglow yellow flowers in full display—a striking fall highlight against a dark backdrop. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture

Moonglow Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$10.79
$11.99 $10.79
Close-up of vibrant magenta Morgana Purple' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) covered in small water droplets, surrounded by dark green leaves and some unopened buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of vibrant pink Morgana Purple' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) in full bloom with green leaves and some unopened buds scattered among the flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Morgana Purple' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$10.79
$11.99 $10.79
Top-down view of vibrant, deep red Morgana Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves and unopened buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA dense cluster of red and pink Morgana Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in bloom with dark green leaves. Some buds are still closed. The bouquet sits on a light wooden surface - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Morgana Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$10.79
$11.99 $10.79
Clusters of bright yellow 'Morgana Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms, accented by lush green leaves and buds, create a vibrant fall highlight in any garden. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA large 'Morgana Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum), featuring dense clusters of bright yellow blooms, sits on a wooden surface in a greenhouse with similar flowering plants visible in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Morgana Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
Close-up of 'Mumma Mia Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) in vivid full bloom, showing detailed red petals and dark center among green foliage—a striking fall-blooming perennial for any garden. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture A round, purple pot displays the 'Mumma Mia Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum), featuring lush red blooms and green foliage, perfect as a striking fall-blooming perennial against a white background. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture

Mumma Mia Red' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99

Mystic Illusion Dahlia features bright yellow blooms with dark centers, surrounded by lush dark foliage. Broad petals overlap slightly - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A vibrant garden scene showcases the bright yellow Mystic Illusion Dahlia, lush dark green foliage, tall leaves, and clusters of red blossoms in the foreground for a colorful, layered display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Mystic Illusion Dahlia

$16.99
$16.99

The Orange A-Peel® Black-Eyed Susan Vine features bright orange flowers with smooth petals and a dark center, set against green leaves for a striking contrast similar to classic Black-Eyed Susan vines- Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Two vibrant orange blooms of the Orange A-Peel® Black-Eyed Susan Vine with dark centers and slightly overlapping petals stand out sharply against a backdrop of lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Orange A-Peel® Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia)

$11.99
$11.99

Close-up of 'Orange Zest' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) with vibrant orange blooms, layered petals, yellow centers, and lush green foliage—classic fall flowers for a lively and colorful display. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Orange Zest' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
A cluster of vibrant Paradiso Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms, surrounded by green leaves with a few yellow mums visible in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of 'Paradiso Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) features vibrant purple blooms with pops of yellow, creating a lively and colorful fall garden display with this eye-catching perennial. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Paradiso Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
A cluster of white Paradiso White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers with pale yellow centers surrounded by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of white and pale yellow Paradiso White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Paradiso White' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
A cluster of 'Paradiso Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms in vivid yellow, creating a dense, cheerful display of fall color amid lush green leaves. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Paradiso Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
Close-up of a group of Persian Shield Strobilanthes displays striking iridescent purple leaves with metallic silver highlights and deep green veins, overlapping to create a captivating, vibrant scene - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Persian Shield Strobilanthes features vivid purple, metallic-sheened foliage with dark green edges, pronounced veins, and a textured surface, complemented by surrounding red and yellow flowers and lush greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Persian Shield Strobilanthes

$11.99
$11.99

Close-up of lush, vibrant green Pesto Besto® Sweet Italian Basil (Ocimum) leaves with smooth, glossy surfaces and visible veins - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Pesto Besto® Sweet Italian Basil (Ocimum)

$10.99
$10.99
Clusters of vibrant Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) feature rounded, clover-like blooms and green leaves set against a soft, blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Clusters of vibrant, round magenta Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) flowers and green leaves grow closely together in sunlight, creating a lively, colorful garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant magenta 'Plumberry' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) blooms, with lush green foliage and some unopened buds. Layered petals provide a rich texture, making this mum ideal for fall garden containers. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of vibrant ‘Plumberry’ Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, with some buds starting to open among dark green leaves—ideal for fall containers. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Plumberry' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99

Prairie Winds® 'Apache Rose' Switch Grass (Panicum) forms a dense clump of green leaves and airy, purple-tinted flower spikes, bringing ornamental beauty to garden beds with rich soil and vibrant companion plants - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large clump of Prairie Winds® 'Apache Rose' Switch Grass (Panicum) with thin green blades and wispy flowerheads stands among various flowering plants in the garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Prairie Winds® 'Apache Rose' Switch Grass (Panicum)

$18.99
$18.99

Purple Prairie Winds® 'Blue Steel' grass with slender stems and dark purple-brown seed heads, photographed outdoors against a blurred green garden background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Purple-tonedPrairie Winds® 'Blue Steel' grass with fine, wispy seed heads and narrow blue-green leaves, photographed outdoors against a blurred green foliage background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Prairie Winds® 'Blue Steel' Big Bluestem (Andropogon)

$19.99
$19.99

A clump of Prairie Winds® 'Cheyenne Sky' Switch Grass (Panicum), with green and reddish-purple blades, grows in a mulched garden bed surrounded by other flowering plants in the softly blurred background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large clump of Prairie Winds® 'Cheyenne Sky' Switch Grass (Panicum) with tall, thin green blades and reddish-purple seed heads grows in a garden bed, surrounded by other green plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Prairie Winds® 'Cheyenne Sky' Switch Grass (Panicum)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of Prairie Winds® 'Desert Plains' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) with tall green blades and fuzzy seed heads, growing densely in a sunlit outdoor setting that highlights the plants’ texture - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large clump of Prairie Winds® 'Desert Plains' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) displays slender green leaves and bottlebrush-like flower spikes, growing in a garden bed with mulch and surrounding greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Prairie Winds® 'Desert Plains' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)

$17.09
$18.99 $17.09

A large clump of Prairie Winds® 'Lemon Squeeze' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), with tall feathery plumes and long green blades, grows in a garden bed bordered by a wooden fence and surrounded by other plants - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large clump of Prairie Winds® 'Lemon Squeeze' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) shows off its tall, slender green leaves and feathery tan plumes amid a backdrop of assorted garden plants and flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Prairie Winds® 'Lemon Squeeze' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)

$18.99
$29.99 $18.99
Prairie Winds® 'Totem Pole' Switch Grass (Panicum) stands tall in a garden bed with green foliage and red lilies with a house visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A clump of tall, bluish-green Prairie Winds® 'Totem Pole' Switch Grass (Panicum) grows in a garden bed among flowering plants and greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Prairie Winds® 'Totem Pole' Switch Grass (Panicum)

$17.99
$19.99 $17.99

A tall Prairie-Palooza™ Copper Tones Beardtongue (Penstemon), a green perennial featuring reddish leaves and clusters of small white flowers in garden settings alongside other greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A field of delicate white flowers of Prairie-Palooza™ Copper Tones Beardtongue (Penstemon) with green and yellow foliage, photographed in a natural outdoor setting. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Prairie-Palooza™ Copper Tones Beardtongue (Penstemon)

$19.99
$19.99
thriller mum flowers for containers

Planting Showstopping Thriller Plants in Your Containers

Looking to create a stunning focal point in your containers? For containers between 12 and 18 inches in diameter, one thriller plant gives you all the height and drama you need! It’s the perfect starting point for any upright container planting.

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.

Colorblaze® thriller plants for containers

Find the Best Thriller Plants for Your Containers

From colorful blooms to striking foliage, thriller plants bring life, drama, and structural contrast to any composition. Garden Crossings features full-shade, full-sun, and part-shade plants for a range of USDA hardiness zones, ensuring compatibility and performance in almost every gardener’s space. We even have deer-resistant varieties! Order online for delivery or pick-up.

FAQs

Your best thriller plants depend on your light conditions and hardiness zone. Canna lily, mandevilla, and purple fountain grass are great, sun-loving thrillers. Caladium and elephant ear are excellent for shady pots and containers.

You generally need just one thriller for each standard garden arrangement. This prevents roots from overcrowding. Large containers may need two.

Placement depends on how the container will be viewed. If it's viewed from all sides, like in the middle of a patio, put the thriller in the center so it's visible from every angle. If it's viewed from just one side, like against a house or fence, place the thriller in back (the same way you'd put tall plants at the back of a garden bed).