Three Plants, One Stunning Spring Garden
This spring, we’re spotlighting unique planting combinations to make your spring garden come to life. Today’s trio is hard to beat: Pieris, Hellebores, and Phlox. Layered together, they create a garden that’s textural, vibrant, and effortlessly beautiful.
Whether you’re planting a small corner of your garden or filling a mid-to-large landscape, this is a combination that scales beautifully to any space. All three are perfectly suited to the same conditions and each plant matures to a different size, giving you a naturally layered look.
The combination
Pieris anchors the center with bold structure and year-round interest.
Lower-growing Phlox and Hellebores spill softly beneath, filling the space with color and texture.
Meet the plants
Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’
Every great planting combination needs a backbone, and Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ delivers. This beloved evergreen shrub offers year-round interest — from its rich, dark foliage and deep red buds in winter to its cascading white and pink blooms in early spring. It gives the planting height, structure, and a sense of permanence that keeps the combination polished through every season.
Phlox ‘Blue Moon’
An impressive native, Phlox ‘Blue Moon’ brings large, fragrant, rich violet-blue flowers that practically glow beneath the Pieris. As a native plant, it’s especially valuable to early-season pollinators looking for a meal.
Hellebore ‘Brandywine’
Selected by Pennsylvania’s own hellebore guru, David Culp, ‘Brandywine’ is a standout for good reason. Expect an incredible range of flower forms — doubles, dark reds, spotted pinks, picotees, and soft apricots — creating jewel-toned clusters beneath the Pieris.
Why this combination works
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✓Part sun to shade — perfect for tricky spots under trees or along the north side of the house |
✓Average garden soil — no amendments required |
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✓Deer resistant — all three selections |
✓Pollinator friendly — supports early-season bees and butterflies |
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✓Scales to any size — works in a small corner or a large landscape bed |
✓Naturally layered — different mature sizes create depth without effort |
Bonus blooms
Want to take this combination to the next level? Tuck in some daffodil bulbs in the fall and watch the whole composition come to life in early spring. It’s a simple addition that will be enjoyed year after year.
Need a tree to create a shady sanctuary? Our flowering trees are arriving now — come see what’s new.
Ready to plant?
All three of these plants are available at Gateway Garden Center. Stop in and see them in person — our team is happy to help you plan the perfect combination for your space.
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