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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The best spiller plant is the one whose light, moisture and growth rate match the rest of your container. Six dependable choices cover the main design needs: bold foliage from sweet potato vine, flower-filled cascades from trailing petunia or calibrachoa, an annual option in nasturtium, and moisture-loving foliage or flowers from creeping Jenny and bacopa. They are useful choices for different conditions—not a scientifically ranked top six.
What is a spiller plant?
“The spiller is a trailing vine or flower that spills down the sides of the container,” explains University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein (April 12, 2018). A spiller softens a pot’s rim and creates movement as it drapes over the edge. The term describes a growth habit, not a particular species.
Place spillers at the front and outer edges of a one-sided pot. In a container viewed from all directions, distribute them around the rim. Hanging baskets can use several spillers without following a strict thriller-filler-spiller formula.
Six useful spiller plants
| Plant | Best visual effect | Light guidance | Moisture and upkeep | Good companion profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) | Bold, dense foliage | Sun to partial shade | Drinks quickly in containers; trim when its vigorous growth overwhelms the pot | Plants that tolerate similar light and regular watering |
| Trailing petunia (Petunia, including Surfinia types) | Large flowering cascade | Sunny summer displays, subject to the cultivar label | Match watering and light with its companions; remove or manage growth as needed | Sun-loving flowers and foliage with comparable water needs |
| Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa) | Many small flowers along a trailing edge | Full sun | Needs good drainage; secondary horticultural guidance notes heavier feeding and possible iron deficiency in high-pH media | Other sun plants that prefer free-draining mix |
| Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) | Annual trailing color | Use the sold cultivar’s label; varieties do not all trail identically | Care varies by cultivar and local conditions | Annuals with matching light, temperature and water requirements |
| Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) | Low, spreading foliage (often golden) | Light or partial shade | Prefers consistently moist soil; contain it because it can spread if planted in the ground, subject to regional guidance | Shade-tolerant plants that do not dry rapidly |
| Bacopa (Chaenostoma cordatum, also sold as Sutera cordata) | Fine-textured flowers | Light or partial shade; shade can help in hot climates | Wilts when dry; flowering may pause above 90°F (32°C), according to secondary guidance | Moisture-consistent, light-shade companions |
1. Sweet potato vine: foliage with impact
Sweet potato vine is the foliage-first choice when you want a fast, dense curtain rather than a flower display. Oklahoma State Extension includes it among spiller options, and horticultural guidance describes vigorous spread and rapid water use in containers. Give it room, check moisture frequently and trim stems that cover the filler or reach beyond the container’s scale.
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#1 Best Overall
2. Trailing petunia: a classic flowering cascade
Trailing petunias, including Surfinia types, turn a sunny pot into a long-flowering cascade when the cultivar’s label and local weather suit them. Because petunias share containers with many different plants, choose companions with the same sun exposure and watering pattern instead of pairing a thirsty petunia with a drought-oriented plant.
3. Calibrachoa: small flowers, continuous edge
Calibrachoa produces abundant small blooms that trace the rim and spill over it. The Oklahoma State Extension and Royal Horticultural Society both list it as a trailing or spiller plant. It performs best in full sun and well-drained container media. Gardening Know How also flags greater feeding needs and possible iron deficiency when the medium is high in pH; treat those points as general guidance and follow the plant tag for the cultivar you buy.
Rank #2
- Convenient Self-Watering Design: Features a distinctive two-layer self-watering system; The inner container elevates the plants and includes water-absorbent strips at its base; This ingenious design maintains soil moisture at an ideal level, preventing it from becoming overly saturated and safeguarding against root rot
- Lightweight & Compact: Crafted from high-quality plastic, this planter box offers durability, corrosion resistance, and a lightweight design; Its portability allows you to relocate it effortlessly, while its compact size makes it an ideal fit for narrow windowsills or compact kitchenettes
- Easy to Use: Large detachable water reservoir design for hassle-free assembly, water or plant changes, and water volume control; Top opening for mess-free water addition; Easy viewing window on the side for checking the water level at any time
- Stylish Decor with Plant Labels: These plant holders feature a contemporary design and a soothing color palette, making them perfect to adorn your indoor and outdoor spaces, like windowsill, garden, porch, balcony, kitchen, living room, or office; As an added bonus, you'll receive 10 durable plant labels, allowing you to easily mark your plants' names and track their growth progress
- Versatile Planter: This planter offers versatility, allowing you to effortlessly transform it into a hydroponic container by removing your plant from the soil once its roots have matured; It's an ideal choice for cultivating a wide range of botanicals, including flowers, succulents, vegetables, fruits, potted plants, and an array of herbs like basil, rosemary, mint, thyme, and more
4. Nasturtium: an adaptable annual option
Nasturtium adds an informal annual trail and works when you want a less formal display than petunia or calibrachoa. Sources identify it as suitable for containers, but they do not establish one universal light or watering recipe, and not every cultivar has the same trailing habit. Read the seed packet or nursery label before combining it with other plants.
5. Creeping Jenny: bright foliage for moist shade
Golden creeping Jenny is a strong candidate for a pot in light shade where the mix stays evenly moist. Its low, spreading stems create a foliage ribbon rather than a flower cascade. Keep it in the container unless local authorities or extension advice indicate it is appropriate to plant out; it can spread beyond a pot in favorable conditions.
Rank #3
- 2 PACK* Trailing Perennial Groundcover: Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a fast-growing plant with vibrant, chartreuse-green foliage.
- Spreading Habit: Creates a lush, dense mat of foliage, ideal for erosion control and weed suppression. At its maturity, it will reach about 4 inches tall, with a spread of about 18 inches.
- Low Maintenance: Easy to grow in sun or partial shade; tolerates a variety of soils.
- Fun fact: Creeping Jenny is also referred to as "moneywort" because of it's coin shaped leaves.
- Live Plants: Our plants are grown exclusively for Deep Roots and The Three Company, shipped fresh directly from our greenhouse to you!
6. Bacopa: delicate flowers for lighter shade
Bacopa (also sold as Sutera cordata) supplies fine foliage and small flowers from spring into fall in mild conditions. It wilts when dry, so it suits gardeners who can monitor moisture. In warm climates, partial shade can lengthen its season; flowering may slow or stop during heat above 90°F (32°C), according to secondary care guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right spiller
Start with the pot’s actual light
Observe the spot where the container will sit. Count direct sun there rather than relying on the amount of light elsewhere in the garden. Full-sun choices such as calibrachoa need a different position from light-shade choices such as creeping Jenny or bacopa. For tender summer displays, wait until your local frost risk has passed, following regional planting advice.
Rank #4
- Package Contents: Includes two (2) Black Heart Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) starter plants. Each plant measures approximately 5-9 inches in height. Plants are supplied in a bare-root state for immediate planting.
- Dramatic Foliage Color: Features deeply lobed, heart-shaped leaves with a dark purple to near-black coloration. This dark foliage provides high visual contrast when planted alongside bright green or flowering plants in mixed arrangements.
- Vigorous Trailing Habit: Exhibits a rapid growth rate with cascading stems that can trail up to 3-5 feet in a single season. Acts as an effective "spiller" component in hanging baskets, window boxes, and tall patio containers.
- Heat and Drought Tolerance: Adapted to thrive in high heat and humidity. Once established, the tuberous root system stores moisture, allowing the plant to withstand periods of dryness without significant wilting.
- Versatile Landscape Use: Functions as a dense, weed-suppressing groundcover in garden beds or as a trailing accent in containers. Suitable for planting in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 as a perennial, or as a summer annual in cooler zones (4-8).
Make every plant share the same basic needs
Missouri Extension recommends combining plants with compatible light, soil, temperature and water requirements. Do not force a design by pairing a dry-condition plant with a water-loving spiller or a full-sun plant with a shade plant. If the thriller and filler need different care, use separate containers.
Use container-specific media
Fill pots with a quality soilless container mix. Ordinary garden soil can compact in a pot, restricting air movement and drainage. A well-structured mix gives roots a more reliable balance of water and oxygen.
Best Value
- Package Contents: Includes two (2) ‘Margarita’ Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) starter plants. Each plant measures approximately 5-9 inches in height. Plants are supplied in a bare-root state for immediate planting.
- Vibrant Chartreuse Foliage: Features broad, heart-shaped leaves in a bright neon lime-green hue. This light coloration provides high visibility in the garden and creates a sharp contrast when planted alongside dark-leaved or red-flowering companions.
- Vigorous Trailing Habit: Exhibits a rapid, aggressive growth rate with cascading stems that can trail up to 6 feet or more in a single season. Functions as a dominant "spiller" in large hanging baskets and patio containers.
- Heat and Humidity Resilience: Native to tropical climates, this variety is adapted to high heat environments. It maintains active growth during mid-summer when cool-season annuals often decline.
- Versatile Landscape Use: Can be cultivated as a trailing container plant or as a dense, fast-spreading groundcover in garden beds. Thrives as a perennial in USDA Zones 9-11 or as a high-performance annual in Zones 4-8.
Check moisture instead of following a fixed calendar
Sunny containers may need a daily check, with even closer monitoring during hot weather. Watering frequency changes with pot size, plant size, wind, temperature and the medium. Feel the mix and follow the plant label rather than applying a universal schedule.
Leave room for the trail
Allow stems to hang over the rim without burying the filler. A vigorous sweet potato vine may need a larger pot or regular trimming, while a fine-textured bacopa can disappear if a taller companion crowds it. Keep the eventual length and the container’s viewing distance in mind.
Coordinate color, texture and season
Use a foliage spiller to frame bright flowers, or repeat a flower color in the spiller and filler for a connected design. Check whether the plant is sold as an annual or tender seasonal plant in your climate, and adjust the combination when temperatures or frost make the original plan unsuitable.
Quick Recap
Quick combinations by condition
- Sunny, flower-led pot: trailing petunia or calibrachoa with sun-tolerant thriller and filler plants.
- Sunny pot needing foliage: sweet potato vine with companions that can keep up with its light and water demand.
- Light-shade, consistently moist pot: creeping Jenny or bacopa with shade-compatible companions.
- Informal annual display: a labeled trailing nasturtium cultivar with annuals suited to the same site.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing by flower color alone and ignoring the pot’s actual sun exposure.
- Combining plants with opposite watering needs.
- Using garden soil that compacts in a container.
- Planting an aggressive spreader in the ground without checking regional recommendations.
- Assuming every nasturtium or petunia cultivar has the same trailing habit.
- Failing to leave enough space for stems to trail or for regular trimming.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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