3/25/04

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Reiman's Pick for the week of March 22, 2004

Pansies - "You Make Me Smile"

Linda Naeve
Reiman Gardens Extension Coordinator

Not too long ago, Iowa had a tourism slogan: "Iowa - You Make Me Smile." Every time I heard or read it, I wondered what it was that was supposed to make me smile. I often thought that slogan could be better used for a gardening advertisement because certain plants bring out a smile in gardeners. Pansies are one of those plants. They always make me smile because of their cheerful colors and the "face" on their flowers seems to smile back. Even saying the name forms a smile on your face.

The name pansy comes from the French word pensée, meaning thought or remembrance. Pansies, Viola X wittrockiana, as we know them today, originated in Europe. They are grown as annuals because they do not survive most Midwest winters. Pansies are one of the earliest annual flowers to be planted in the garden and can go in as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Don't worry about late season snowstorms and cold spring weather - they pose no threat to pansies.

Pansies are a welcome addition to borders, patio containers, hanging baskets, window boxes and flower beds. They have the widest color range of any annual garden flower. Their color palette includes red, purple, blue, bronze, pink, black, yellow, white, lavender, orange, apricot and mahogany. Pansies offer some of the best shades of blue found in annual flowers - from pale sky blue to deep royal blue. The flowers may be of a single color, known as "clear," or be "blotched" with two or three colors that become its "face."

Pansies used to be considered short-term annuals for spring and fall garden displays because they couldn't survive the summer heat. However, the newer hybrids possess improved heat tolerance and plant vigor enabling them to thrive and bloom through the summer.

Pansies' favorite part of the growing season is now, so don't plan to start them from seeds at this time. They require at least 12 weeks from seed to flower, so purchase transplants available for sale now at garden centers. Plant them in well-drained soil and where their roots will remain cool. They grow best from spring through fall in partial shade and in areas that receive morning sun and are shaded from the hot afternoon sun. Keep the plants well watered during dry weather and remove the faded flowers for continuous bloom. If pansies become long and leggy during the summer, cut the long stems back to 3 or 4 inches above the soil to encourage new blooms.

Along with the thousands of spring-flowering bulbs, Reiman Gardens will feature a bold pansy display in the conservatory and outdoor gardens. It's sure to make you smile!

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 264K. Caption: pansies

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