PRETTY, HARDY PANSIES OFFER MULTI-SEASON GARDEN COLOUR
From relative obscurity as a European alpine wildflower to their current role as a mainstream winter colour plant, pansies have come a long way.
I smile to myself when asked if the pansies being sold in late summer and fall are true “winter” pansies.
All pansies are the same, regardless of the time of year they are sold, and they are members of the viola family.
For a more in-depth understanding of pansies, we talked to Jerry Corchelse of the innovative Pan-American Seed Company in Chicago, who was happy to share some of the dramatic changes he has seen in pansy varieties.
Corchelse said interest in pansies dates back to just after the First World War when they were only field grown.
Selling them at that time meant digging up those early “Mammoth” giants and wrapping them in newspaper.
In the 1960s and ’70s, when gardening became increasingly popular, pansies were part of that trend, providing both spring and fall colour.
The emphasis of early pansy breeding was on getting the plants to bloom longer during the reduced hours of daylight in early and late winter.
Pansies love cool temperatures and excel when other plants won’t bloom.
According to Corchelse, their hardiness rating depends on many factors, including microclimates.
“In Chicago,” he said, “we are zone 5, but even during colder winters, I usually get a 90 per cent survival rate of the pansies I plant each fall.”
Q: Is it true the smaller violas are much hardier than pansies?
A: I’ve attended horticultural seminars where there have been claims of zone 3 hardiness for violas. Well, perhaps, the early species and the Johnny-jump-ups, like ‘Helen Mount,’ could survive zone 3, but those early varieties were self-seeding, Corchelse said. Traditional breeding has gone in the direction of more new colours, impactful blooming and increased longevity. Zone 4 might be a more accurate reflection of viola hardiness. A: If you get them going in early September, the roots will have a greater chance to become established, resulting in better success over winter.” However Corchelse cautions: “Remember that well-draining soils are essential, especially in areas that get heavy winter rains.
Q: For an optimum display, how far apart do you plant?
A: Four to six inches is ideal, which translates into three to four plants per square foot.
Q: What are the best varieties?
A: I think the series of ‘Matrix’ pansies are among the best for fall planting. They are some of the most resilient and are outstanding in terms of plant compactness, flower size and overall performance in difficult winter weather.
Q: Are there any current colour trends?
A: In autumn folks tend to plant pansies that have so-called blotched faces, and in spring they favour clear colours. Some beautiful Matrix combinations have added much to the colour palette of winter plantings. There are also wonderful new colours, but Matrix ‘Sunrise’ with its striking rosy-yellow tones and extra-large flower size, is the model for the series. Violas, too, have come a long way with some striking new colours. They are also stronger flowering and are especially well suited to containers and for more difficult locations. ‘Cool Wave’ pansies are also coming into their own these days because of their attractive spreading habit. They really act like a ground cover, and even though they have slightly smaller flowers, their effect is quite stunning. They’re nice for window boxes and baskets, and they can be planted about 10 inches apart, using less to get more.”
Q: What are some of the best pansy companions?
A: I love to mix grasses with fall pansies. Grasses, like the evergreen carex varieties and compact miscanthus and panicums with their lovely fall foliage and seed head colour, are best friends with pansies. Dusty miller and other silver accessorizing plants, like calocephalus, are excellent companions, and of course, the strong colours of fall mums lift the whole look up a few notches. Vibrant ornamental kale also makes a nice complement to pansy beds. Bulbs, too, are magical when underplanted with pansies that bloom before, during and after the bulbs finish.
Q: How about deadheading?
A: The big thing about the Matrix series is they do not readily seed. So, the need for constant deadheading is gone. I like to use a slow-release fertilizer but at about half the recommended strength, and for pansies that need a quick little pick-me-up, a liquid feed once a month is ideal. It is important, however, to keep them lean because you do not want a lot of vegetative soft growth going into winter.
Q: Are pansies and violas important to pollinators?
A: Butterflies and moths love pansies, and they provide lots of pollen for honeybees.
Q: Where is pansy breeding going?
A: We’re looking for a few colours like a true red, which has been hard to breed, as well as a true, stable azure blue. Breeders are trying to get pansies to bloom stronger during short days of 10 or less hours of daylight, and they’re working on flower size and durability.
Also of note: “Perennial company, Darwin Plants, has developed a ‘Halo’ pansy that has greater heat tolerance and is getting closer to being a true perennial. This is an important goal because ... hot weather is the nemesis for all pansies, pushing them to become leggy with smaller flowers and diminished performance,” says Corchelse.
From late fall until the weather gets seriously cold, and from mid-February until temperatures become very warm in late June, pansies and violas will add a magic touch to any garden.
Use their vibrant colours and new combinations in ground beds or as accents in containers.
It’s hard to imagine a winter without them.