Bountiful Gardens

The Flower with a Face: Pansies

Pansies are famous for their unique, overlapping petals that often feature a dark "blotch" in the center, giving them a distinctively human-like "face." They come in every color of the rainbow—including true blues, deep velvety blacks, and neon oranges—and many have a delicate, sweet scent reminiscent of violets.

Pansies vs. Violas: The Quick Distinction

While they are cousins, they serve slightly different roles:

• Pansies: Have large, 2-to-4-inch flowers with fewer blooms per plant. They are the "showstoppers."

• Violas (Johnny Jump-Ups): Have much smaller flowers (1 inch) but produce hundreds of them. They are generally more heat-tolerant and "tougher" than Pansies.

Role in the Garden

• Design Category: Filler. They grow in tidy, compact mounds (6–9 inches tall). They are meant to be planted in "clumps" or "drifts" to create a solid carpet of color.

• Best Placement: They are the "kings" of early-spring containers, winter window boxes (in mild climates), and front-of-the-border edgings.

• Bloom Season: Late Fall through Early Spring. In many regions, they are planted in October, stay green under the snow all winter, and explode into bloom the moment the ground thaws.

Care & Maintenance

• The "Deadheading" Rule: This is the #1 secret to Pansy success. As soon as a flower starts to wither, pinch off the entire stem down to the base. If you let them go to seed, the plant will stop blooming and eventually "stretch" and die.

• The "Heat Exit": Pansies are not summer plants. Once the night temperatures stay above 20°C (70°F), they will get "leggy," stop blooming, and eventually succumb to the heat. This is the signal to pull them out and replace them with heat-lovers like Lantana or Vinca.

• Edible Elegance: Pansy flowers are completely edible! They have a mild, slightly minty/grassy flavor. Use them to garnish salads, freeze them into ice cubes, or "crystalize" them with sugar for cake decorating.

• Slugs and Snails: Because Pansies love cool, damp weather, they are a favorite snack for slugs. Keep an eye out for "holes" in the petals and use organic slug bait if necessary.

The Essential Tip for Beginners

The "Leggy" Haircut: If your Pansies start to look "stretched out" and thin in late May, don't give up on them yet! Give the whole plant a "buzz cut," leaving only about 2 inches of green growth. Give them a deep drink and some fertilizer. If the weather stays relatively cool, they will flush out with a brand-new, compact round of flowers for one last show!