What a great time to refresh some of the tired colour in our gardens.
Once the intense heat we’re experiencing gives way to our more normal September weather patterns, it will be a perfect time to set out fall and winter colour.
Violas and pansies provide some of the longest blooming colour of any plants in our garden. They are also among the hardiest.
Planted now, pansies will quickly become established and easily tolerate normal winter weather.
Varieties like the Matrix series have mid-sized blooms and easily stand up to the heavy fall rain and winter snow. Their heritage is in the alpine regions of Europe giving them that genetic hardiness needed to overwinter, even in the eastern Fraser Valley’s severe outflow wind chills.
Years ago at a seminar in Ohio, one university agriculture professor said that many of the viola varieties are even prairie hardy.
A few things are important, however, when making these planting decisions. As tough as they are, they will perform best in warmer locations in any garden. They will establish more quickly, bloom longer into the fall, bounce back far earlier in February, and bloom continually into early summer.
Well-drained soils are essential too, especially with more extreme weather patterns and heavy rainfall. A little rich organic matter, like Sea Soil, mixed in will make a big difference in their overall performance.
If you have containers, window boxes and even hanging baskets, you may want to try the Cool Wave trailing pansies. Many growers are creating hanging baskets just with these super spillers, as they provide great colour at a time of the year when you need it most.
Many retailers and growers have commented on the consumer shift from pansies to violas. Violas simply have smaller, more elegant blooms and they, too, come in a wide range of colours.
They also blend comfortably with many other fall and winter plants, like ornamental kale, grasses and heuchera. Combine this with their extra hardiness and it’s not hard to see why.
Both violas and pansies have expanded their range of colours and colour blends.
My favourite is the Citrus Blend of yellow, orange, cream and white, which really stand out in winter. There is a Halloween Mix of orange and black, a Harvest Mix of yellows, reds and oranges. There are many other great combinations that will surely enhance your favourite colour schemes.
For an added boost of fall and winter impact, mix in some silver dusty miller, variegated carex grasses like c. Everglow, c. Everest and c. Ice Dance and some of the vibrant ornamental kale.
With a little creative gardening, even in smaller spaces, winter can be far more enjoyable thanks to winter pansies and their companions.
