By Jeff Floyd
Certified horticulturist and arborist
Chrysanthemums are great for fall color, but mass plantings of pansies or Johnny-jump-ups fit the bill for winter temperatures. I’ve always believed pansies should be purchased as soon as you can find them in nurseries. Sure, this may mean they get planted a little early, but as long they receive adequate water, this shouldn’t be a problem most years.
Pansies, and their European wildflower predecessor, Johnny-jump-ups, can be found in an astonishing array of colors including mahogany, orange, pink, blue, yellow, and others. One big difference between pansies and Johnny-jump-ups is size. Pansies are larger in general with flowers usually ranging between one-half inch to two and a half inches wide. Johnny-jump-up blooms are smaller, typically between three-quarters of an inch to one and one-half inches wide.
Another big difference between the two is that Johnny-jump-ups are slightly more heat tolerant than pansies. This gives them an advantage in the Southwest, but not by a lot. Both generally perform well in cold temperatures. Their growing range is between thirty degrees and sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
The recommended spacing for pansies is between six and twelve inches, with the size of the cultivar at maturity being the determining factor. Johnny-jump-ups are generally planted about six inches apart. Planting them in large quantities of the same color provides a spectacular effect. However, planting pansies and Johnny-jump-ups randomly in all available colors is more common and perfectly fine. I wouldn’t recommend intermingling the two different species together in the same bed.
Pansies and Johnny-jump-ups have few pests, but aphids are not uncommon, and they do sometimes become infested with spider mites. These pests can usually be knocked off with a blast of water from a garden hose. The closer they are planted together the more likely the pest problem will become big.
Both are edible and make a great garnish. The younger, more tender plants are of course more palatable. They are a fancy addition to an otherwise all-green common salad.
