5 Great Plants for Spring Container Gardens (2024)

Gardening

Gardening Basics

Container Gardening

• 01 of 05

  Pansies and Violas (Viola × wittrockiana, Viola spp.)

  

  Different species of annual viola are ideal choices for pots both in early spring and in fall—whenever cool temps or a light frost is likely. These plants love cool temperatures, so much so that they'll need to be swapped out with warm-season plants once the cool weather of spring gives way to early summer. These are low-growing plants, so they will look best if either planted in a wide, low bowl, or used as a filler or spiller plant in mixed containers with larger specimens.

  Pansies and their smaller cousin, violas, are cool weather lovers and will fade and become leggy when it gets too warm. Fertilize lightly during the growing season—too much fertilizer will cause them to get leggy, but if they don't get a bit of feeding, they won't flower.

  You can plant pansies and violas together or with other cool-weather spring annuals. You can also pair them with perennials, such as coral bells (Heuchera) and creeping Jenny. In a mixed container, you can replace them with different plants later in the summer as they fade.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10; usually planted as annuals
  • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, red, rose, yellow, apricot, maroon, white, black, orange; solid, bi-colors, often with dark center blotches
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist, general-purpose potting mix

• 02 of 05

  Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida)

  

  A member of the sunflower family, cineraria (also called florist's cineraria) is a herbaceous perennial that is grown as an annual in many climates. Available in many vibrant colors (except yellow), this cool-weather, mid-sized plant is great for spring containers. It can flower for up to five months if conditions are cool enough and you keep up with deadheading. Cineraria requires good drainage; it prefers full sun (if kept cool enough), but also does fine in partial shade.

  Keep cineraria moist, not wet, and never let the plant dry out completely. Large pots with plenty of good, moisture-retaining potting soil will increase your odds of success. Like most heavy-flowering plants, cineraria should be fertilized regularly.

  This mounding plant plays well with others or looks great on its own. A spiller plant, like creeping Jenny works nicely with cineraria.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11; normally grown as annuals
  • Color Varieties: Cobalt blue, light blue, lavender, magenta, pink, white; contrasting white eyes, solid, and bicolors
  • Sun Exposure: Part shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist, general-purpose potting mix

  See Also

  This garden designer's golden rule for choosing plants is the secret to making your containers look incredible every time

• 03 of 05

  Spiral Sorrel (Oxalis spiralis subsp. vulcanicola)

  

  The oxalis genus includes a wide variety of plants collectively known as wood sorrels. A favorite species for spring containers is Oxalis spiralis subsp. vulcanicola, also known as spiral sorrel or volcanic sorrel, is an evergreen perennial in warmer regions but is grown as an annual in other climates. This native subspecies is a sprawling plant that grows about eight inches high with a spread of two feet or more. The cultivated, named varieties are mounding plants that make ideal filler plants in containers. Flowers are normally yellow, but the named cultivars can have foliage ranging from bright green to dark purple.

  To keep oxalis happy, fertilize regularly and keep them moist, not wet. If your plant starts getting leggy, cut it all the way back to rejuvenate it. No deadheading is necessary.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11; grown as annuals elsewhere
  • Color Varieties: Yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, general-purpose potting mix

• 04 of 05

  Coral Bells (Heuchera spp., x Heucherella)

  

  Both the species form of coral bells and a hybrid cross (known as x Heucherella, a cross between Heuchera and Tiarello) are perennial plants that grow well in shade throughout the year. However, they both are so cold-tolerant and unfussy that they are particularly well suited to spring temperature fluctuations. Both come in a wide array of leaf colors and shapes, and more new varieties are offered for sale every season. Spring is a particularly good time for heucheras. Although known mostly for their foliage, the spring flowers can be quite spectacular and last for quite a while.

  These plants react badly to having wet feet, so make sure to use a well-draining potting soil that is somewhat on the dry side. Mixing in a slow-release fertilizer will improve leaf color and blooming. They can be planted by themselves as specimens in large containers, or with other annuals as spillers around the edges of a pot.

  When grown in pots, these perennials can be moved in late fall to a dry, protected location for overwintering, then set out again the following spring.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Red, white, coral, pink blooms; various foliage colors and patterns
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade (depends on variety)
  • Soil Needs: Dry to medium-moisture potting soil

  Continue to 5 of 5 below

• 05 of 05

  Cool-Season Herbs and Vegetables (Parsley, Kale, etc.)

  

  Cool-season herbs and leafy vegetables are perfect for spring containers. Kale and parsley, for example, scoff at the cold and are especially beautiful in pots, thanks to leaves with intricate textures. Both kale and parsley play well with others and can be a surprising addition to mixed containers.

  Oregano, cilantro, thyme, sage, mint, lemon balm, and chives are also herbs that are suitable to include in your mixed containers. Along with kale, consider other spring greens such as spinach and chard.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11; normally grown as annuals
  • Color Varieties: Not grown for flowers
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial sun for leafy greens
  • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, general-purpose potting mix