By Jeff Floyd
Certified horticulturist and arborist
A sudden profusion of pansies in flowerbeds is a reliable sign that Fall is in full swing. Pansies usually begin showing up in garden centers during September and find their way into landscapes immediately afterwards. These colorful beauties start out leisurely at first, eventually demanding more attention from onlookers as cooler weather dulls the appearance of other plants.
The pansy that is familiar to us today is not native to North America. Rather they are crosses of European wildflowers first cultivated in the early 1800s. Pansies are tender perennials or biennials intolerant of strong sunlight and high temperatures. They can grow through the coldest temperatures of most winters and well into Spring but as the Mercury climbs ever higher, their brilliance fades. For this reason, we grow them as cool-season annuals.
Kids love the playful nature of pansies. Their upper three petals tend to have patterns which converge in the observer’s imagination to form the face of some whimsical character. Cultivars can be found in white, violet, blue, yellow, black and multiple combinations of these colors.
All parts of the pansy are edible, and their petals are occasionally used as interesting garnishes in salads, desserts and soups. Their flavor has been described as a somewhat zesty lettuce. However, pansies develop an increasingly bitter taste as they age. Therefore, only tender young plants are recommended for culinary use.
Few pests bother pansies in West Texas gardens. This is partly due to the winter growing season. They are sometimes visited by spider mites or aphids but tend to tolerate them well. If the colorful flowers begin to look tattered from an infestation, a shot of insecticidal soap will usually get rid of any pests.
Pansies can grow in most well drained soils but perform best when a plant-derived compost is incorporated at least six inches deep. Pansies like regular watering but soggy soils will suffocate their roots and allow fungi to attack them. They look great when planted with other cool season staples such as snapdragons, ornamental cabbages, and chrysanthemums.
While you’re out shopping for garden color this season, be sure to include pansies on your list of essential plants.
Floyd is a private green industry consultant. He can be reached at [email protected].
