The Perfection of Pansies Like its hardy cousin, the wild violet, the common pansy can tolerate conditions that would wither lesser flowers. In chilly weather, this Hercules of the flower garden keeps right on blooming. Pansies are perfect plants to liven up your landscape during those times when little else is in flower. All they need is a sunny spot in the garden. Shulte likes to plant them right after the first freeze, mulch them and let them grow through the winter.
Pansies are virtually immune to disease.
Early in the growing season, pansies can be susceptible to aphids, but no other pests tend to bother them. Though the heat of full summer is too much for them, they keep blooming when the temperatures dip to the 20s. Plus, pansies are versatile. They can stand alone, either massed in beds or potted as an accent, and they work just as well as border treatments. Shulte offers an imaginative way to combine pansies with bulb plants, too.