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Pansies & Violas - Hanging Baskets for Spring & FallPansies & Violas
Tips in a nut shell.....
* Great in Hanging Baskets, Hanging Planters & Window Boxes
* Great plants for Spring or Fall
* Perfer Shade, keep soil moist not wet, fertilize every other week
 Pansies were developed by cross-breeding many different species of the Viola flower.
Pansies come in a dazzling array of colors with more showy flowers. However they are generally less hardy or tolerant of extremes in climactic conditions than are violas.
Pansies and violas are perennial plants but are often treated as annuals if grown in colder climates. Plant them in late summer to fall and they will thrive during the cool weather and then they will die back once things start freezing.
Pansies can become straggly unless diligently pinched back. Viola flowers are smaller when compared to pansies, but they tend to produce more flowers over a longer season than do pansies.
Violas are also better at handling the heat and the cold.
Violas can be top planted into your hanging basket or hanging planters like shown in the first photo below or top and side planted like in the second photo below.
A Mixed Hanging Basket Top Planted
 A Mixed Hanging Basket Top & Side Planted
 Consistently moist soil and plentiful fertilizer are essential. Plant them in rich soil, keeping them moist but not wet; then fertilize then every other week and deadhead as frequently as you can so that they will not waste energy setting seed.
Once limited to yellow, mahogany red, blue, and purple, years of cross breeding now see pansies in a wide range of colors and color mixes from reds, pinks, lavenders, mauves, oranges, blues, yellows, whites, and even black. There are now even ruffled pansies that almost look like double flowers.
Pansys are also great if you have decorative hanging basket and planters as they compliment vs taking over the planter - as in the photo below, which show a iron castillian planter planted in blue violias and pansies.
 SOME SPECIAL VARITIES OF PANSIES TO LOOK FOR
If you need more cold hardiness, look for the Majestic Giant series of pansies.
If you live where you will have more summer heat look for the The Maxima series which will excell for zone 7 gardeners.
Majestic Giants are a series of pansies with very large blooms. They come in blotched faces and solid colors. The Maxima pansies are the “blotched type” and also come in a wide range of colors
Few diseases and pests really bother pansies. Yellow leaves are caused by root mold which is a sign of over-watering or can be due to wet, humid weather. Be sure the drainage is good and limit your waterings to prevent these diseases.
Fragrant
The most fragrant pansies are the blues and yellows. The scent is distinctive and very delicate like a soft perfume.
Edible Leaves & Flowers
The leaves and flowers are both edible. High in vitamins A & C the flowers can be used as a garnish on soups and salads and can be placed on cakes and molded cheeses.
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