As we head into spring and the weather starts to warm up, it's the perfect time to add some color and charm to your front porch or entryway with beautiful flower combinations.

Here in the Northeast of the United State, April weather can still be unpredictable. So far it has been a very cold and gloomy spring in NJ, lot’s of rain and not much sun. Even today, northern NJ had snow and I experienced hale. Despite cold whether, there are plenty of hardy plants that thrive in these conditions and can brighten up your containers. Pansies and hellebores are in their prime right now and make a stunning display when paired with small conifers or evergreens for an eye-catching pop of color and texture.

Pansies are charming little flowers that come in a multitude of colors. They belong to the Viola family and thrive in cooler temperatures, especially in spring and fall. Pansies look beautiful on their own or paired with other spring plants. Since they are low-growing, they work well as base plants and create a lovely contrast when combined with taller flowers.

From top to bottom: **heather**, **pansies** and **creeping phlox**

Pansies look so pretty paired with heather and creeping phlox. Heather is a small, evergreen shrub with soft, bell-shaped flowers that grow along short stems. It comes in a variety of colors — from white to pink and red — and even though it naturally grows in wild, open places like Scotland and Ireland, it works beautifully in containers and borders too.

Creeping phlox is another favorite of mine. It’s a low, spreading perennial that forms a thick, carpet-like mat of little star-shaped flowers in early to mid-spring. It loves sunny spots and blooms in soft pastels and bright colors like pink, purple, blue, white — even some fun striped ones.

If you’re thinking about freshening up your spring planters, try adding some heather and creeping phlox. I love using perennials in my planters because after a couple of months, when it’s time to swap things out, I can always find a special spot for them in the yard. And the best part — they’ll come back year after year.

Pansies planted with **miniature carnations** and **artemisia**

Container planting with miniature carnations is such a lovely way to brighten up a patio, balcony, or even a little corner by the front door. These smaller versions of classic carnations are so easy to work with in pots, and their soft, ruffled flowers come in the prettiest shades of pink, red, white, and even some fun two-toned ones. I love how they bloom for such a long time — from late spring right into summer. They’re happiest in sunny spots with well-draining soil, and they look great mixed with little trailing plants like ivy or lobelia for a fuller, layered look. If you snip off the spent flowers and give them a little care now and then, they’ll keep blooming like champs. Perfect for adding a soft pop of color wherever you need it.

Perennial artemisia is one of those plants that quietly makes everything around it look better. I love using it in containers because its soft, silvery-green leaves add such a beautiful texture and calming color to a mix of plants. It’s super easy to care for, loves full sun, and does well in well-draining soil, perfect for pots or planters. Artemisia has this soft, almost velvety look to it, and it pairs so nicely with bright flowers or other bold foliage. Plus, it’s drought-tolerant and really low maintenance once it’s settled in, which makes it great if you want something that looks good without a lot of fuss. It’s one of those plants that holds its own, whether you tuck it in with colorful blooms or let it shine all on its own.

I admire ranunculus for their intricate, rose-like blooms. They are a popular choice among gardeners and florists alike. Known for their tightly layered, delicate petals, these flowers create a rich, full appearance that adds a touch of elegance to any garden, container, or floral arrangement. I absolutely love them. Blooming in late winter to early spring, ranunculus offer a wide palette of colors, ranging from soft pastels to vibrant, saturated hues like deep red, golden yellow, bright pink, and pure white.

The plants typically grow on slender, upright stems, making them especially well-suited for cut flower displays. Ranunculus thrive in cool, sunny conditions with well-draining soil, and when properly cared for, can produce multiple flowers per tuber. With their combination of delicate form and striking color, ranunculus remain one of the most visually captivating flowers of the spring season.

**Tulips** as a center piece surrounded by pansies and other low growers

Tulips are tall and slender spring plants that come in so many different colors. They become even more impressive when planted in huge groups or even whole garden beds. When planted out in the garden, you’ve got to get them into the ground in the late fall or early winter when the ground is not frozen yet.

But tulips don’t just belong in garden beds—they’re also fantastic for container gardening. Planting tulip bulbs in pots gives you more flexibility, letting you move the containers around to create bursts of color exactly where you want them. It’s also a great option if you don’t have a lot of garden space or if your soil conditions aren’t ideal.

I hope you are enjoying some of these sprint planter inspirations and get cracking at it. Let me know what your favorite plant combinations for spring are. I am curious!

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