December 2006
Perky Pansies
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, NJ
If you are busy planting daffodils, tulips, lilies and other spring flowering bulbs why not give your garden a burst of color and beauty with pansies? Pansies will bloom all fall into winter and right alongside your spring bulbs.
The pansy is an ancestor of the tricolor violet or Johnny-jump-up. In 1810 varieties of Viola tricolor were crossed with Viola lutea and V. altaica resulting in what we now call pansy. The 2-5-inch fragrant bloom comes in a range of colors, including white, pink, red, orange, yellow, purple, blue and near black; they often have contrasting faces.
The name pansy is from the French word pense, meaning thought or remembrance. Throughout history pansies have been associated with love. The fairy spirit Puck, from A Midsummer Night's Dream, used their juice to “make man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees."
The Greeks cultivated pansies for medicinal use. Both the leaves and flowers of pansies are edible and high in vitamins A and C. The flowers have been used to make syrup, flavored honey and salads. They are also useful as a dye.
The pansy itself is a compact plant forming tidy clumps, growing 6-8 inches in height with an 8-12-inch spread. They flourish in rich, moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter. Plant them in sun to part sun, and keep them happy by giving them a lot of moisture during dry spells. Mulching around the pansies will keep their roots cool, conserve moisture, and reduce weeds.
Pansies are highly cold-resistant, and perform best during the cool days of spring and fall. They are relatively disease and pest free. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with insect repellents or fungicide. Fertilize regularly during the growing season and remove spent flowers before seeds are formed to prolong bloom.
The pansy's long blooming flowers will add early or late season color to your beds, and borders. They look good in flower boxes and containers, and also make wonderful cut flowers.
Some of the varieties that will greet you from both sides of the Leonard J. Buck Garden entrance are: Skyline Copperfield, Delta Pink Shades, Atlas Black, and Delta Premium Pure Yellow.
- Tricia Scibilia, interpretive gardener
** All photos Courtesy of Tricia Scibilia
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