11 Simple Spring Planter Ideas
These spring planter ideas offer a variety of creative ways to use vibrant plants like pansies and bulbs to enhance the beauty of your front porch and garden. With helpful tips for successful planting and inspiring plant combinations, these ideas will transform your outdoor spaces into a stunning springtime showcase.
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your garden with vibrant colors and lively blooms.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by creating stunning spring planters that can brighten up any front porch or garden space.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, using spring plants like pansies and bulbs in containers can transform your outdoor areas into a welcoming oasis.
And these spring planter ideas will give you some easy options to get you started.
1 | Combine tulips and muscari in a large container
©perlphoto – stock.adobe.com To me, nothing says spring like tulips, daffodils and other bulbs. So I think they make great spring container plants.
However, because they require a cold spell in order to grow and bloom, they need to be planted in the fall (even in containers).
So you'll have to put them in a planter that will survive outside over the winter. (In other words, not glass or ceramic).
Half wine barrels will work.
As will large resin, plastic or cement containers.
©John Anderson – stock.adobe.com Daffodils and muscari also make a nice combination.
2 | Plant fancy tulips
Many of the fancy tulips (such as the doubles, parrot tulips, etc.) only grow reliably for one season in the garden. So I never plant them in the ground because it seems like too much work.
But those same constraints don't apply to pots. Which is why I think they are the perfect candidates for spring bulb containers:
- There's no digging involved. Just put dirt in the pot, lay down the bulbs and put in more dirt and your done.
- You can plant them really close together so you'll get a profusion of blooms.
- And if you cover the pot with chicken wire, you can prevent the squirrels from digging them up.
A win-win-win scenario if you ask me.
3 | Create a trio of bulbs
©Lana – stock.adobe.com If you like the idea of having a mixture of bulbs (or other plants) but don't want to try to fit them all into one container, you can always group multiple containers together.
That way you can plant each type of bulb (or plant) in its own pot and arrange them how you like them on your porch.
It also means you can take one or more of the containers away when that particular plant is done flowering. So you won't have to see it when it's not at its best.
4 | Combine bulbs with spring perennials
Bulbs can also be combined with spring perennials in a planter.
Spring perennials are hardier than annuals so can usually withstand some unexpected cooler weather.
And they can be transplanted into your garden after your container is finished blooming.
I love the combination of Heuchera with bulbs (like daffodils) because the contrasting shape and color of the leaves really makes both plants stand out.
5 | Plant pansies (or violas) in a large container
Pansies and violas are the quintessential flowers for spring pots for a reason.
They are easy to grow, bloom reliably and will survive through a spring snowfall (when most other annuals won't).
They also love cooler weather and will add color to your containers consistently until the weather gets too hot for them.
To really make a show with pansies, mass them in a large planter. Any kind of container will work. A metal pail is an easy and inexpensive option.
But they also look really pretty in a more ornate pot.
Or you might want to elevate them in a tall planter so you can see them easier on the porch.
You can also play with combining colors to add some extra interest.
6 | Or put them in a small one
Pansies and violas will also grow very well in smaller planters.
This is the one time of year when you can get away with planting in small containers. The pots don't dry out as fast because the temperatures aren't too high and there is usually more rain.
So if you only have a small space on your front porch, this may be the perfect option for you to add a little pop of color.
7 | Combine pansies (or violas) with trailing plants in an urn
To make a container of pansies or violas look a little fuller, you can always add some trailing plants.
They will cascade down the side of the pot which adds height to the arrangement without overshadowing the flowers.
8 | Plant bulbs with pansies (or violas)
Another option is to plant pansies (or violas) with taller bulbs such as tulips or daffodils.
The pansies will fill in the bottom of the container and provide a carpet of color that really makes the bulb flowers above it stand out.
I really love the contrast of purple pansies with yellow daffodils. But there are lots of other color combinations that would work well, too.
9 | Use other cool-weather annuals
There are some plants that just don't do well in the heat.
So if you live in a climate where the summers are really hot (like I do), take advantage of cooler weather pots to grow some of your favorites.
I use plants like Lobelia and Fuchsia in my spring containers and then replace them with heat-loving plants later in the season.
10 | Plant annuals around an evergreen
If you have any year-round containers with evergreen plants in the middle, it's easy to dress them up for spring by planting some colorful annuals, spring perennials or bulbs around them.
11 | Combine spring perennials with annuals
Finally, you can also combine spring perennials with annuals in your containers.
Heuchera looks great with sweet potato vine, especially if you get ones with contrasting leaf colors.
The great thing about this combination is that it can last all summer. If you want more flowers later in the season, you can always add other annuals. (The container in the picture has white Impatiens, which would have to planted when the risk of frost has passed).
Have comments or questions about our spring planter ideas? Tell us in the section below.
I see that you reference pansies often, but most of the pictures are of violas. Different seasonal plants.
You are right, Gloria. I tend to use them interchange-ably so I don’t pay that close attention to which one is in the pot 🙂 But I probably should be more careful about naming them correctly when I’m writing about them.