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 vibrant 'Leading Lady Amethyst' Bee Balm (Monarda) flowers with spiky purple petals and lush green foliage, densely grouped in a garden - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Leading Lady Amethyst' Bee Balm (Monarda)

$27.99
$27.99
Clusters of bright magenta 'Leading Lady Plum' Bee Balm (Monarda) with spiky petals bloom among dark green leaves. Dew or raindrops shimmer on some petals, and a few small insects are visible on the vibrant flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a single vibrant 'Leading Lady Plum' Bee Balm (Monarda) showcases spiky, magenta petals and green leaves in the background, with the flower standing out against the lush foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Leading Lady Plum' Bee Balm (Monarda)

$18.99
$18.99

A close-up of a round cluster of small, purple flowers blooming on 'Millenium' Allium with slender green leaves and more blooms softly blurred in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of vibrant 'Millenium' Allium blooms among green foliage in a garden surrounded by trees and grass, all under a partly cloudy sky - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Millenium' Allium

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of 'Pardon My Lavender II' Bee Balm (Monarda) shows vibrant pink, spiky petals and green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Pardon My Lavender II' Bee Balm (Monarda)

$27.99
$27.99
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

$18.99
$18.99

A dense cluster of bright yellow 'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) with green leaves, grows in a garden against a black lattice fence and other plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of bright yellow 'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis) blooms with green leaves fills the frame, creating a cheerful, dense display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Tuscan Sun' False Sunflower (Heliopsis)

$19.99
$19.99

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

Close-up of vibrant Angelface® Blue Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia) with delicate purple petals and yellow-white centers, densely clustered among green stems and leaves in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Angelface® Blue Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia)

$10.99
$10.99

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
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

Close-up of Colorblaze® Golden Dreams™ Coleus shows vibrant leaves with deep burgundy centers and bright chartreuse green edges, their serrated foliage overlapping in a dense, decorative pattern - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Colorblaze® Golden Dreams™ Coleus highlights its chartreuse green foliage with bold red veins, creating a striking natural pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Colorblaze® Golden Dreams™ Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Colorblaze Lime Time Coleus features a dense cluster of sun-tolerant, bright lime-green serrated leaves that overlap to create a lush, vibrant ground cover - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCThe sun-tolerant Colorblaze® Lime Time® Coleus, with its bright green scalloped leaves, creates a vibrant garden display alongside blooming white and purple petunias and small pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Lime Time® Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A dense bush of deep purple, serrated leaves—likely Colorblaze® Newly Noir™ Coleus, a striking sun to shade annual—grows in a landscaped garden with bright green grass in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of deep purple, textured leaves of the Colorblaze® Newly Noir™ Coleus, a foliage plant with serrated edges and visible veins. Overlapping layers create a rich pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Colorblaze® Newly Noir™ Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Colorblaze® Rediculous® Coleus features vibrant, serrated leaves in deep red and purple with green-edged, dense burgundy foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCColorblaze® Rediculous® Coleus displays deep red and burgundy foliage in a garden beds, adding bold color among green plants and orange coneflowers, with mulch below - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Rediculous® 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

A close-up image of Coleus Colorblaze Torchlight with deep burgundy foliage with hot pink veining and bright chartreuse serrated edges - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Colorblaze® Torchlight® Coleus reveals deep burgundy centers, bright magenta veins, and vibrant green edges - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Colorblaze® Torchlight® Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of vibrant Colorblaze® Velveteen® Coleus leaves with serrated edges, displaying deep burgundy and bright pink patterns, surrounded by colorful foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Colorblaze® Velveteen® Coleus shows its jagged-edged leaves with deep purple and magenta markings, edged in green - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Colorblaze® Velveteen® Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of the vibrant Double Scoop™ Raspberry Deluxe Coneflower (Echinacea), a drought-tolerant perennial with layered red petals and a dark, textured center, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of Double Scoop™ Raspberry Deluxe Coneflower (Echinacea) with vibrant red, densely layered petals and green leaves, shown with another bloom against a bright blue background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Double Scoop™ Raspberry Deluxe Coneflower (Echinacea)

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of Dragon Wing® Pink Angelwing Begonia flowers with smooth, rounded petals and glossy green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCDragon Wing® Pink Angelwing Begonia features vibrant blooms surrounded by glossy green foliage. This image highlights a close-up of the plant’s striking petals and lush leaves in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Dragon Wing® Pink Angelwing Begonia

$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