Planting Pansies

The botanical name for Pansie is "Viola”

The little plants are some of the hardiest to be found in the garden. In climates that don’t have the extreme heat and cold these delicate looking flowers can be found most of the year round.

Pansies come in a dizzying array of colors. 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.

Because of the wide color range, 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 not necessary having a lot of flowers. The leaves should be a dark green. If the plants are tall and leggy and show yellowing bottom leafs they should be avoided. Remember by choosing the more bushy plants with fewer blooming flowers, you have chosen a plant that will grace your garden with a longer bloom time.

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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 15cm or 6 inches apart to achieve the lush look, when the pansies are planted close enough together without overcrowding them, you will get the result of a colorful carpet like display, not easy to forget. An all purpose fertilizer such as 2:3:2 can be added when they are planted. The plants must be watered in thoroughly.

The final step is to add about 5cm or 2 inches of mulching compost to hold in moisture. I don’t like the use pine bark because it tends to makes the soil too acid. Regular watering, removing spent flowers 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. And that’s it.

Did you know?

That in Afrikaans the Viola’s is called “gesiggies” which means; “little faces”.

In Spanish the flower is called “pensamiento” which means; “thoughts”

The English name “pansy” is a derivative from the French word “pensee” which means;”a thought”.

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, there is a lot to do.

Give it a "thought" plant pansies.