Plant Pansies for
Autumn and Winter Color
Despite the derogatory
connotation associated with the name
"pansy", the little plants are some of
the hardiest to be found in the garden.
At any given time of the year pansies
are found blooming in some region of
North America. They are Spring and
Summer favorites in the northern regions
and Autumn and Winter staples in the
south. In climates that don’t have the
extreme heat and cold of the north and
south the delicate looking blooms can be
found year round.
Pansies come in a dizzying array of
colors. The best known ones are the ones
who have what is commonly called a
"face". The face of a pansy is the black
patches that can be somewhat circular or
look like they were hand painted with
streaks. Some newer varieties on the
market have faces that are other colors
such as blue or burgundy instead of the
traditional black. The colors range from
delicate whites, creams, and pinks to
bold yellows, oranges, and reds. There
are dramatic blacks and burgundies as
well as soothing blues and purples. The
varieties that are termed "clear" are
the ones where the "face" in absent.
Choosing a variety is the hardest part
of growing pansies. The plants require
very little care and preparation to be a
spectacular addition to your garden or
patio container. They are also
delightful in window boxes to add some
charm. When shopping for the plants
themselves choose plants that are short
and compact with many flower buds. The
leaves should be a dark green. If the
plants are tall and leggy they should be
avoided. By choosing the bushy plants
with fewer blooming flowers and more
buds you have chosen a plant that will
grace your garden with a longer bloom
time.
Pansies prefer at least a half day of
sun, preferably more. They also enjoy a
moist but not soggy soil. The plants
should be spaced about six inches apart
to achieve the lush look that I call the
"patchwork carpet" look. This is when
the pansies are planted close enough
together to grow together in a colorful
carpet like mass without overcrowding
them. It is absolutely breathtaking when
you see them displayed in this manner.
An all purpose fertilizer can be added
when they are planted. The plants must
be watered in thoroughly. The final step
is to add about two inches of mulch such
as straw to hold in moisture and add a
little winter protection. And that’s it.
Regular watering, removing spent
blossoms and pinching the plants back if
they get overgrown is all that is
required. With these tips you will have
the prettiest pansies on the block.
Rachel Murphy, has been working in the
flower business for over 15 years. over
the last year she has taken on the
responsibility for managing and maintain
Florarose.com. Her main focus during the
past year has been to grow the web site
into an online resource for people
wishing to send flowers anywhere in the
United States. You can visit the site at
http://www.florarose.com. Rachel also
maintains the blog on Flora Rose at
http://www.florarose.com/blog where
she discusses the daily happenings in
the flower shop as well as her day to
day life.
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