Late spring outdoor planter

One of my favorite color combinations during the spring is purple and green. I love how it appears in nature via blossoming redbuds, lilacs, wisteria, butterfly bush, creeping lantana, phlox, violets, and more.

To enjoy this color palette, I gathered a mix of purple and white flowers for a warm weather planter using the following approach.

Mix textures, shapes & sizes

After identifying a color palette, collect a variety of plants with juxtaposing characteristics. In this sun/part shade planter I used the following:

• Variegated Japanese Iris (1)
• Dark purple Angelonia (3)
• Diamond Frost Euphorbia (3)
• White Sunpatiens (2)
• Greek oregano (1)
• Superbells Evening Star (2)
• Ajuga (2)

Plants with a range of petal sizes, furry or bumpy leaves, and upright versus hanging growth habits create variety and balance.

Choose a few plants then repeat

You don’t need too many different plants to make a statement. Use groups to create unity and depth.