These pretty blooms are more resilient than they look
Pansy or Viola x vittrockiana belongs to the Violaceae family. It is native to Europe and Asia and has many varieties that produce flowers in a variety of colors. In this article, we will share our tips on planting, growing, and caring for pansies. Pansies are a common flowering garden plant. They are fast-growing flowers that thrive in the right environmental conditions. Pansies often produce heart-shaped flowers, and their brightly colored or bicolored petals usually overlap. This plant is specially bred to withstand cold temperatures.
1. I love it
Southerners have a treat when it comes to having pansies in the winter,” says Mark Thompson, owner of Shoppe, a garden shop and nursery in Birmingham. “My friends up north don’t. They can’t plant them until spring. Our climate is perfect for pansies. They tolerate our kind of cold, so we're able to have those happy little faces all winter long." Here's how you can make the most of these surprisingly resilient blooms.
2. Blooming Bunch
With this cheerful trio of colors on the left, Thompson relied on a mix of blue and yellow flowers, including 'Frizzly Sizzly' pansies. To give it a greener look, she added creeping Jenny to the plant placed at the back of the display, and chives (which produce purple pom-pom-like foliage in early spring) and 'Lemon Ball' sedum to the plant on the right. A multi-container design is a great way to break up extra pots in storage, especially since pansies are so affordable, she says. "If you water the flowers, they'll actually last until spring," Thompson notes. "They'll get even more beautiful as time goes on."
3. Dynamic Duo
Thompson paired these filler pots with lush centers (a small arrangement of blue Juniper and a large green arborvitae) anchored the arrangement. Then she filled the gaps with violas, panolas, and panola (a medium-sized, faceted pansy-viola hybrid). In the larger pot, she also added lamb’s ears (a semi-evergreen perennial). “Traditionally, it grows well all winter in the South,” says Thompson. While the shrubs are sturdy enough to last the season, that’s one of the reasons this professional arranger loves them. “They provide a nice contrasting texture to those delicate pansy leaves,” she says.
4. Single Sense
For a less-obvious, more-impactful look, Thompson filled a striking, shallow urn with a mix of violas and pansies. (Although both are in the Violaceae family, there is one key difference between the two: the former has a smaller face.) Opting for an arrangement made entirely of these flowers is a bold addition to a front porch. “You can mix colors however you like or do it all in one hue,” says Thompson. “They really create a packed pile of blooms.” The plants are inexpensive compared to fillers like ornamental grasses, the horticulturist explains. “You get a lot of bang for your buck.”
Pansy- Growing Points
Thompson’s Tips for the Most Dense Buds in the Garden
Get Started
“I like to plant them as soon as they are available at garden stores. If possible, it’s best to plant them in the ground (or in their containers) before the first frost. That way, the roots have some time to establish themselves.”
Keep the Soil Moist
“Before a hard frost, be sure to water your plants. You don’t want the soil to be dry when that cold weather arrives because the roots will freeze. If the soil is moist, it will insulate them.”
Fertilize frequently
“Liquid fertilizer is your friend, but you’ll want to give your plants regular water first to make sure the roots don’t dry out and absorb the fertilizer. I recommend doing this at least once a week. This will replace the nutrients that leach out of the bottom of the pot whenever you water.”
Give them shelter
“In general, pansies can withstand the winter temperatures of our region and do well, but if we’re going to have a really hard freeze, bring your pots inside. If you can’t [or if they’re planted in the ground], cover them with a breathable material like cotton sheeting or burlap sacking.”
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