Spring Flowers for Containers

     Now that you have some container guidelines under your belt, it is time to choose some plants for spring. Keeping the cost low is always a good option because you will be swapping out your plants come mid-May-June for summertime. I like to look in my garden first to see what is available…

      The three components of a nicely arranged planter are the thriller, the filler & the spiller. The thriller is the centerpiece of your arrangement. It stands taller than your other plants and has a ‘wow’ factor. The filler are the plants that encircle your thriller & occupy much of the room. You can have one to three different varieties if you choose, or the same plant in various colors. The spiller is planted along the edges of your container and drapes/hangs over the edges to soften them.

     A nice plant for the spring as your thriller is the perennial hellebore. There are varieties with more flowers to start than leaves, and after you do the swap you can find a nice shady location for it to spend many years. Heather (Erica – zones 9-10) pictured in my planter at left is beautiful but needs 40 degree temps at lowest, but again can go in your garden later for the entire season. Just about to flower bulbs like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths are also nice choices. Here you would need a number of bulbs. Your fillers can be pansies, forget-me- nots (growing right now in your garden – pictured at left), lettuces (which come in many shades of green and maroon). For spillers think of the lamium (beacon silver – pictured at left) & vinca vine (periwinkle) again growing right now in your garden. Also, think of adding ‘twigs’ like pussy willow, forsythia, quince, redbud. These make a lovely backdrop if your plant is against a building.

    Don’t forget to ‘mulch’. I like to think outside the box for a planter or two. At left I used some plastic Easter eggs. Dollar store colored glass gems & seashells collected from vacations also make nice choices.

    Just have fun & be creative. Water really well the first time to remove all the air pockets from the soil. Enjoy!!