How to know the design fundamentals for containers

Container Design John and Eric next visit the greenhouse so John can show how he puts his container collections together. Every great container combination has certain design fundamentals that bring the whole container together in a unified and cohesive way. John talks briefly about the type elements and design fundamentals that he utilizes in container design. They view one container that exhibits 3 basic elements. A pillar, or upright plant, a filler, which are the plants in the center and are mounting in form and then a trailing plant that John refers to as a spiller. So they have a pillar, a filler and a spiller. The taller element is the Sambucus nigra 'Eva,' Sambucus black lace, in the center are several plants but is anchored by Solenostemon x 'Glennis' Coleus. As well they have a Ageratum houstonianum, some Salvia divinorum, some Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' which is a plant John loves. And then falling out the bottom is Scirpus cernuus (Isolepis cernua) Fiber Optic Grass and Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Tricolor.' It all works well together, a lot of texture change. When one goes from grass texture to cut leaf texture it adds a lot of depth and a lot of texture as well as color to this combination. Eric likes the way they've worked off the colors in the container. It's a black container so they echo that with the Sambucus Black Lace. There is a lot of interest with the pillar, filler and spiller design technique. One gets a sense of moving through the container. One sees everything and it all really comes together beautifully. Since these containers will sit on the presentation stand for the Kentucky Derby there is a lot riding on these containers. John wants them to look good. And they do.