News You Can Use Distributed 10/19/06
Pansies continue to be the most popular cool-season bedding plant in Louisiana. They are normally planted in October through November and last through early to mid-spring. Pansies have long been known for their reliable landscape performance, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.
Many pansy varieties are on the market in a wide choice of colors – blue, rose, pink, yellow, white, purple, red and scarlet, among others. Flower sizes come in large, medium and small. Some varieties have solid-color ("clear") flower petals and others have blotched flower faces. Normally, clear-faced flowers are the most popular for landscape use, but some folks like the colors of the blotched flowers in mixed plantings.
Others like to interplant pansies among daffodils and tulips – "a good combination," says Owings. Match the bulb flower size to the flower size of the pansy variety you use.
The horticulturist urges gardeners to be aggressive and plant in masses for the best visual enhancement. "The pansy family has something for everybody," he says.
Pansy varieties debuting in the last couple years include XXL, Majestic Giant II and Colossus. These are larger-sized pansies whose flowers are 4 inches across. Medium pansies have flowers about 2.5 to 3 inches across, and smaller pansies have flowers 1.5 to 2 inches across.
"If you want a truly dwarf pansy, try Johnny jump-ups (also called violas)," Owings says, explaining, "They work well in containers and usually last 1 to 2 weeks longer into the spring than pansies do."
He adds, "You also may be interested in panolas, which are hybrids between pansies and violas. Panolas have been named Mississippi Medallion plants."
For best pansy performance, Owings recommends planting the flowers in a sunny location in well-drained acid soil having a pH of 5.0 to 5.5 and a temperature from 58 F to 60 F.
Planting dates range from mid-October in North Louisiana to mid/late November in extreme South Louisiana. Use a 3- to 4-month controlled release fertilizer at planting time. Another light application in late February or early March may be beneficial.
Pansies begin to decline with the arrival of warmer nights in the spring. Normally, April signals the end of pansy season in the Baton Rouge area. The plants tolerate low temperatures – most references list foliage being tolerant to somewhere between 10 F and 15 F and flowers being tolerant to about 20 F to 22 F.
Tall and spindly growth on pansies can be taken care of by pinching. Removal of faded flowers also encourages continual bloom or faster re-bloom should be plants become stagnant.
For related gardening and landscape information, click on the Lawn and Garden link at the LSU AgCenter Web site, www.lsuagcenter.com. Also, contact the county agent in your local parish LSU AgCenter office.
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On the Internet: LSU AgCenter: www.lsuagcenter.com
On the Internet: www.louisianalawnandgarden.org
Contact: Allen D. Owings (225) 578-2222 or aowings@agcenter.lsu.edu
Editor: Mark Claesgens (225) 578-2939 or mclaesgens@agcenter.lsu.edu