Why Pansies Provide Color Beyond Fall
Pansies are a favorite cool-weather flower; their cheerful blooms and smiling "faces" are a hallmark of fall and spring gardening. But many people move on after fall gardening is finished, under utilizing this hardy little flower and losing out on some potential winter wow factor!
Once the fall weather gives way to definite cold, many gardeners see their pansies wilt and die off, and assume that a colorful garden will have to wait until the spring. However, the roots of the pansy plant are very strong, and will not die completely even if the above ground part of the plant does. This means that whenever there is a thaw or mild stretch in winter, the pansies will pop right back up! So by leaving the pansy plant in place, you may be able to have on and off color all winter long. If the winter is mild, or the plant is in a more protected area, they might not die back at all - well worth leaving them where they are through the winter.
This cycle of dying back and re blooming has an additional benefit; by repeating this cycle, the plant becomes stronger and more resilient, resulting in a strong lush pansy in the springtime.
There are also several varieties known as "winter pansies" or "ice pansies"- these are pansies that have been bred specifically to endure cold winter temperatures without suffering. Not all pansies are this way though, so make sure to check the variety when you purchase them! If they are bred to last the whole winter, they are almost always referred to specifically as winter pansies.
Pansies are a flower of change - they symbolize the coming of fall and the new bloom of spring. This year, take your pansies to the next level; overwinter them and enjoy their cheery pops of color all winter long.