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.
Four Sun Parasol® Giant White Mandevilla flowers with yellow centers bloom among green leaves, their delicate petals highlighted by sunlight, showcasing this drought-tolerant annual against a softly blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

Sun Parasol® Giant White Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99

Close-up of vibrant pink and purple climbing mandevilla flowers, each with five petals, surrounded by lush green leaves and delicate Sun Parasol® XP Bluephoria™ Mandevilla blooms in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A hand gently holds two trumpet-shaped Sun Parasol® XP Bluephoria™ Mandevilla flowers, one purple and one pink, surrounded by shiny green leaves and more Sun Parasol® XP Bluephoria™ blooms in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sun Parasol® XP Bluephoria® Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99

A close-up of Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla displays its pink double blooms with darker centers, set against lush green leaves in sunlight—highlighting the beauty of this flowering climbing vine - Photo Courtesy of Sunfire Nursery.A close-up of the Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla, showcasing its trumpet-shaped pink blooms amid glossy green leaves and several unopened buds on a climbing vine - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99
Close-up of vibrant pink Sun Parasol® XP Mauvelous Mandevilla flowers with five petals and dark centers, set against lush green leaves. This healthy climber blooms beautifully in a black pot, adding a fresh touch to any space - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.Sun Parasol® XP Mauvelous Mandevilla is a climbing plant with glossy green leaves and abundant vibrant pink trumpet-shaped blooms, displayed against a light gray textured backdrop - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sun Parasol® XP Mauvelous Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99

Sun Parasol® XP Original Sunbeam® Mandevilla is a vibrant climbing plant with glossy green leaves and trumpet-shaped yellow flowers featuring orange centers, perfect for sunny spots - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Sun Parasol® XP Original Sunbeam® Mandevilla: yellow trumpet-shaped flowers with orange centers amid glossy green leaves. Buds are visible, highlighting this sun-loving climbing plant's vibrant display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sun Parasol® XP Original Sunbeam® Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99

A bouquet of Sunbeckia® Carolina Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) with vivid yellow petals and dark centers, arranged in a gray ceramic vase outdoors on a wooden surface - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunbeckia® Carolina Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

$26.99
$26.99

A wicker basket filled with bright Sunbeckia® Luna Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), known for drought tolerance and dark-centered yellow-orange blooms, sits on a stone-paved outdoor surface - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunbeckia® Luna Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

$26.99
$26.99
A wicker basket brimming with Sunbeckia® Paulina Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), drought-tolerant yellow blooms, rests on green grass beside a wooden stool, with blurred garden plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunbeckia® Paulina Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

$28.99
$28.99
Close-up of a vibrant Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus) with a dark brown center and reddish-orange ring blooms outdoors among green leaves and everblooming sunflowers beneath a blue sky - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A patch of Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus), prized for drought tolerance, blooms brightly in front of tall ornamental grasses and colorful plants on a sunny day, with a blurred car and trees in the distant background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus)

$11.99
$11.99

A vibrant Suncredible® Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus) with a dark brown center stands out among green leaves and blurred yellow blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant garden bed highlights a row of Suncredible® Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus) in the back; vivid pink flowers in the middle; and lush green plants in front, against trees and shrubs - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Suncredible® Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus)

$11.99
$11.99

A cluster of bright yellow Sundance Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, with some unopened buds surrounded by green leaves. The sunlight highlights the vibrant petals - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Sundance Yellow' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$9.59
$11.99 $9.59
Two vibrant pink Sundenia® Coral Dipladenia flowers with yellow centers bloom among green leaves on a black trellis - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sundenia® Coral Dipladenia

$11.99
$11.99

A close-up of Sundenia® Red Dipladenia, a tropical plant with five bold red petals and a vivid orange center, lush green leaves surrounding it - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sundenia® Red Improved Dipladenia

$11.99
$11.99
Three wide-petaled Sundenia® Suprema Vivid Pink Dipladenia flowers with yellow centers bloom among lush green leaves, creating a fresh and vibrant tropical display in natural light. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.The Sundenia® Suprema Vivid Pink Dipladenia, a compact plant with vibrant pink five-petaled flowers, yellow centers, and dark green leaves, blooms against a white corrugated background as some buds remain unopened. - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Sundenia® Suprema Vivid Pink Dipladenia

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up of the Sundenia® White Dipladenia, a tropical flowering plant with five light pink petals and a yellow center, set against vibrant green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of two Sundenia® White Dipladenia flowers with yellow centers and lush green leaves. Their soft, overlapping petals highlight the tropical beauty of this vibrant flowering plant - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sundenia® White Dipladenia

$11.99
$11.99
Closeup of a single Sunfinity® Double Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus) with dense, ruffled yellow petals and lush green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant Sunfinity® Double Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus) with full yellow petals blooms among green leaves, as other sunflowers and a white fence appear in the sunny background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunfinity® Double Yellow Sunflower (Helianthus)

$11.99
$11.99

A close-up of a single Sunpatiens® Compact Classic White Impatiens flower with five petals, surrounded by glossy green leaves, appearing fresh and vibrant in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Sunpatiens® Compact Classic White Impatiens bloom with lush green leaves in front of tall, thin, reddish-purple ornamental grass, creating a vibrant contrast that highlights the delicate white flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

SunPatiens® Compact Classic White 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

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 Orchid Blush Impatiens bloom with five rounded light pink petals and a small green center. Partially visible dark green leaves add contrast to this annual flower's soft texture - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.A potted Sunpatiens® Compact Orchid Blush Impatiens with abundant light purple blooms and dark green leaves sits on a woven mat outdoors near wooden decor and a metal lantern - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Sunpatiens® Compact Orchid Blush Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of SunPatiens® Compact Red Candy Impatiens, showing vibrant red-to-pink gradient petals and dark green leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Sunpatiens® Compact Red Candy Impatiens showcases clusters of vibrant pink and red gradient petals amid lush green leaves, creating a colorful, lively display ideal for sunny spots - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sunpatiens® Compact Red Candy Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of vibrant pink Sunpatiens® Compact Royal Magenta Impatiens with overlapping petals and small white centers, filling the frame in a sun-tolerant floral display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Sunpatiens® Compact Royal Magenta Impatiens in full bloom display bright magenta flowers with five rounded petals and small red centers, set against dark green serrated leaves, with buds nearby - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

SunPatiens® Compact Royal Magenta Impatiens

$10.99
$10.99
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).