9 Beautiful Early Spring Container Gardens
Capture the fleeting beauty of spring ephemerals with snowdrops, daffodils, pansies, sweet-smelling hyacinths and more
There’s nothing quite like the first sight of snowdrops, narcissus or brightly colored violas outside nurseries to confirm that spring finally is right around the corner. As the weather warms, bring some of the magic home and perhaps put an extra spring in your step — sorry, we couldn’t resist — with an early-spring container for your porch or windowsill.
Soon, many nurseries and flower shops will be well-stocked with plenty of options for bulbs as well as annuals like pansies and more. For gardeners in colder climates, where the chance to get outside and garden may still be weeks or months away, now is the time to gather inspiration for your spring containers. When planting time comes, it’s best to buy the bulbs already potted, as they had to be planted in fall.
Soon, many nurseries and flower shops will be well-stocked with plenty of options for bulbs as well as annuals like pansies and more. For gardeners in colder climates, where the chance to get outside and garden may still be weeks or months away, now is the time to gather inspiration for your spring containers. When planting time comes, it’s best to buy the bulbs already potted, as they had to be planted in fall.
2. Spring Ephemerals
Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) are some of the first bulbs to emerge in early spring — often from drifts of snow — earning them their common name. They can make charming, fairy-like container plants. Enjoy them in a cluster of small pots on a sill or lining a pathway, where you can appreciate their charm up close.
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) are some of the first bulbs to emerge in early spring — often from drifts of snow — earning them their common name. They can make charming, fairy-like container plants. Enjoy them in a cluster of small pots on a sill or lining a pathway, where you can appreciate their charm up close.
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
3. Window Box Beauty
A zinc window box outside a Chicago home offers the residents a prime floral view of the best of the season. Garden designer Kathy Molnar Simpson of KMS Gardens and Design used a pastel combination, including pink tulips, curly willow branches, two types of hyacinths, fragrant stock, blue-purple bedding hydrangea and trailing ivy.
Window boxes can dry out quickly, particularly when packed to the brim with plants. Water by hand frequently, or plan on setting up a drip line to keep soil moist.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Find an irrigation specialist near you
A zinc window box outside a Chicago home offers the residents a prime floral view of the best of the season. Garden designer Kathy Molnar Simpson of KMS Gardens and Design used a pastel combination, including pink tulips, curly willow branches, two types of hyacinths, fragrant stock, blue-purple bedding hydrangea and trailing ivy.
Window boxes can dry out quickly, particularly when packed to the brim with plants. Water by hand frequently, or plan on setting up a drip line to keep soil moist.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Find an irrigation specialist near you
4. Moss Garden
Sunshine and warmer days prompt moss to grow exuberantly in early spring. To create the look of a natural forest floor, try covering the soil at the base of a potted tree, as was done here by New Eco Landscapes for a New York garden, or tucking mounds of moss among emerging shoots of potted bulbs. Live moss can be purchased in flats from some nurseries; preserved moss is a decent substitute.
Water requirement: High; moss looks most luxurious with consistent moisture
Light requirement: Full sun to bright filtered light
Sunshine and warmer days prompt moss to grow exuberantly in early spring. To create the look of a natural forest floor, try covering the soil at the base of a potted tree, as was done here by New Eco Landscapes for a New York garden, or tucking mounds of moss among emerging shoots of potted bulbs. Live moss can be purchased in flats from some nurseries; preserved moss is a decent substitute.
Water requirement: High; moss looks most luxurious with consistent moisture
Light requirement: Full sun to bright filtered light
5. Double “Roses”
A combination of golden primrose (Primula vulgaris) and dusty pink hellebore (Hellebore sp.), also called lenten rose, come together with burgundy coral bells (Heuchera sp.) and miniature daffodils in this spring container design by Le Jardinet. While primroses are some of the first herbaceous perennials to bloom in early spring, lenten rose bloom even earlier, often throughout winter in relatively mild climates, making this a particularly long-lasting combination.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
A combination of golden primrose (Primula vulgaris) and dusty pink hellebore (Hellebore sp.), also called lenten rose, come together with burgundy coral bells (Heuchera sp.) and miniature daffodils in this spring container design by Le Jardinet. While primroses are some of the first herbaceous perennials to bloom in early spring, lenten rose bloom even earlier, often throughout winter in relatively mild climates, making this a particularly long-lasting combination.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
6. Gold and Purple
Velvety purple pansies and buttery yellow ranunculus play with cheerful miniature daffodils (Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’), fuzzy pussy willow branches and white sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) in this deliciously rich spring container designed by Greenhaven Landscapes. To create a similar look, pair bright hues with deep purple for contrast, and stagger plant heights within a container.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Velvety purple pansies and buttery yellow ranunculus play with cheerful miniature daffodils (Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’), fuzzy pussy willow branches and white sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) in this deliciously rich spring container designed by Greenhaven Landscapes. To create a similar look, pair bright hues with deep purple for contrast, and stagger plant heights within a container.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
7. Doorstep Duo
A pair of glossy black ceramic pots shows off pale-hued pansies, primroses and tulips in this entryway arrangement by Your Space By Design for a client in Calgary, Alberta. Large sprays of pussy willow branches loaded with fuzzy catkins boost the height of the display to match the porch’s scale.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Shop for similar containers on Houzz
A pair of glossy black ceramic pots shows off pale-hued pansies, primroses and tulips in this entryway arrangement by Your Space By Design for a client in Calgary, Alberta. Large sprays of pussy willow branches loaded with fuzzy catkins boost the height of the display to match the porch’s scale.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Shop for similar containers on Houzz
8. Snow Dusting
Keep it simple and elegant with a low bowl potted with a mass of a single variety of grape hyacinth. Try all white, as was done here by Little Miracles Designs for a New York City client, for the look of a dusting of snow on your garden.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Keep it simple and elegant with a low bowl potted with a mass of a single variety of grape hyacinth. Try all white, as was done here by Little Miracles Designs for a New York City client, for the look of a dusting of snow on your garden.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
9. Modern Beauty
This dramatic entry display, designed by Kathy Molnar Simpson for a Chicago client, feels more contemporary than your typical spring container arrangement, thanks to a structural swirl of willow branches and ember-like orange-streaked tulips.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
This dramatic entry display, designed by Kathy Molnar Simpson for a Chicago client, feels more contemporary than your typical spring container arrangement, thanks to a structural swirl of willow branches and ember-like orange-streaked tulips.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Spring containers with ‘Angelique’ Tulips
Houzz readers: Your turn! Share your favorite early-spring container combinations in the Comments.
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Houzz readers: Your turn! Share your favorite early-spring container combinations in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Browse thousands of landscape photos
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Shop for your outdoor spaces
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This petite potted arrangement captures all of the charm of early spring, with sunshine yellow tulips emerging from a bed of pastel pansies. The container, designed by Christensen Landscape Services, sits as a welcoming beacon on a porch in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Water requirement: Moderate to high
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade