Facts About Pansies

Pansies are cold-hardy plants that will bloom in late fall, early winter and early spring, when most other plants could not survive. While the plant itself is hardy, it appears very delicate. Pansies are in the plantae kingdom, the magnoliophyta division, magnoliopsida class, violaes order, violaceae family, biola genua and of the tricolor species. Pansies are very popular among growers because they are easy to plant and require little maintenance.

History

Pansies are forever connected to violas. An unnamed individual found a flower that looked like a viola growing wild sometime after the 4th century B.C. in Europe and named it "wild pansy." It's believed the flower was discovered in France because the word pansy comes from the French word "pansee," which means to remember. Violas and the wild pansy began getting crossed by flower breeders in the 1800s and many different varieties of pansies were available by 1850.

Appearance

The leaves of the pansy plant are oval and/or heart-shaped. The blooms are round and have five petals. The flowers come in three basic color patterns: face, single and clear color. Face pansies have a dark center. Single patterns are solid-colored flowers that have black lines that start in the center of the flower and radiate out. Clear patterns are solid-colored pansies.

Uses

Besides the beauty pansies provide to their growing environments, they are edible and high in vitamins C and A. The blooms have a strong flavor and have been used to garnish salads and soups and to make flavored honey and syrups throughout history. The flowers can also be used as dye. Pansy petals are often used in potpourri. The blue and yellow flowers are the most aromatic.

Growing

Pansies can be planted in the ground or in containers. They grow to a height and spread of 8 to 10 inches and do best when planted six inches apart in sunny areas. Pansies should be watered when their soil dries out. Mulching around pansies with organic material such as leaves and pine needles will help the soil conserve moisture. The mulch also retards weed growth. Pansies will bloom well into the late fall and winter in most Southern locations.

Pests and Diseases

Aphids, spider mites and slugs are the known pests of the pansy. Root rot, leaf spot and mildew are the known diseases that can affect pansies.