Fall is here, can you believe it? It feels like we just were stepping into summer landscaping, and now we’re getting ready to prep our landscapes for fall and winter. We aren’t ready to give up all the beautiful spring and summer colors. How can we keep the color alive all year long, even for Fall landscaping?
As temperatures start to drop it’s time to start planting cool-season annuals that will continue to thrive. Annual color and vegetables can add a splash of color to your home and help you to celebrate the new season. One way to do this is by creating colorful potted baskets or arrangements. You can organize the plants to complement each other in height and color.
Thriller, Spiller and Fillers
Potted arrangements always benefit from some height. These plants that are a little taller than the rest are known as ‘thriller plants.’ They are often planted in the middle or the back of the container. A ‘filler’ is a medium height plant that helps create some mass in your display. A spiller is something that gracefully cascades over the sides and elevates your arrangement to a more professional level. These can all add to your fall landscaping.
Some awesome centerpieces or thrillers, spiller, and filler plants ideas:
- Perennials – Perennials often add some permanence to your arrangement. Perennials add texture and color. Some interesting perennial ideas are Euphorbia in varieties such as ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Black Bird’ or the Dracaena colorama plant.
- Dianthus – Dianthus is generally hearty and colorful. They are often white, red, purple, pink or variegated and mature 10-14” tall.
- Snapdragons – Snapdragons are visually stunning with their narrow stocks filled with flowers. They will add delight to any color scheme in their array of reds, pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and whites. There’s even a bronze tone you can find. Snapdragon varieties such as the ‘Sonnet’ reach up to 24” in height. If you’re looking for a more medium height species you can find ‘Montego’ which comes in white, yellow, pink, red, and purple.
- Calendula – Coming in at 12” tall one variety of Calendula is the ‘Bon Bon’ variety which has a full rounded flower. The cheerful yellows and oranges will brighten up any arrangement.
- Pansies and Violas: Do you like to smile? So do pansies. These delightful flowers are full of personality and often look like they are smiling right at you. One variety of pansy – the “Majestic Giant’ makes a beautiful filler as it reaches 8”-10” tall and has a larger flower head. You can find Pansies in nearly every color and shade, so it’s easy to make them work in your design.
- Lobelia – Who doesn’t like a vibrant blue? This classic annual can ramble over the sides of your arrangement and add vibrance to your design. They are delicate and won’t enjoy a full day of sun, so place it in the afternoon shade. Occasionally you can even find these in white, to match the moonlight.
- Ornamental Kale and Cabbage – In the Brassica family these hybridized plants mature, and the interior leaf colors are accentuated. As the leaves open, they reveal a dramatic display of red, pink, or creamy white centers. Ornamental Kale and Cabbage work great as either a spiller or a filler.
These individualized and beautiful fall plant arrangements can be planted in any sized pot or vase or basket and will add color, delight and even a touch of whimsy to any space. You can even adjust the colors or the bases to match the season. Go have fun!