You might be thinking that February is all about roses. For the avid Florida gardener however, pansies with their semi-heart shaped petals are a wonderful way to add some love to your garden. Pansies, which come in a variety of colors, can survive light freezes and are best suited for survival in cooler planting seasons. Pansies are compact, low growers, making them ideal for planting in between rock walls, or along pathways.  Check out the following pansy series and color combinations to see which one is sure to be the winter hit in your garden.

Bingo Series

The Bingo Series of the pansy family bloom large flowers and come in 14 colors. Short stems in this series produce upward facing blooms making for a great pathway border addition.

Karma Series

The Karma Series grows as a compact bushy plant. The Blue Butterfly with Yellow Whiskers is a great addition to a garden for its vibrant colors and color contrast.

Joker Series

The Joker Series have a pronounced face in the middle of the bloom; breeds of this series are set in complementary colors. This series has a 6-8 inch spread and can substitute well for a ground cover.

Purple Shower Series

The Purple Shower series is a clump forming cultivator that produces 2 inch long electric purple flowers. They are great when used with plants in yellows or reds.

Fun Color Combinations

Orange and Purple Paired with dark mulch this color can add a pop to your garden!
Blue and White Snow may not be an occurrence in Florida, however mixing these two colors will add a blanket of wintery wonder.
Red, White and Blue Although Independence day is far away, it’s never too late to show some American pride!
Black and Red February is the month of love, adding these colors to a pot in your living space can spark some holiday romance.
Yellow, Purple and Orange Really stand out by showcasing this fun color combination. It may be winter but this fiery combination will add warmth!

 

Did You Know…

Pansies were once known for their reoccurring role in romantic poetry and were once called Heart’s Ease.

From the Expert

“Pansies are great for February as they love the cool weather, and are intolerable to heat. It is important to keep pansies away from sprinkler systems as the salt in the irrigation system could damage the flowers. Pansies are a cheerful, sensible flower and are easily maintainable, slugs tend to like pansies, so check into organic solutions into preventing this pest from getting into your flower beds, or containers.”

-Sandy Ball, Sun Harbor Nursery

920 East Eau Gallie Blvd. Indian Harbor Beach

(321) 773-1375

 

Pretty in Pink: Pansy Bloomtini

Impress your guests with this fun cocktail by showing your creative side with a pansy garnish.

Ingredients

  • 2oz. raspberry vodka
  • 1oz. fresh grapefruit juice
  • ½ oz. lemon juice
  • Dash of pomegranate juice
  • Dash of champagne

Preparations

Pre-chill martini glasses with ice and water, or by placing them in the freezer for a couple of minutes. Fill a martini shaker half-way with ice and mix all ingredients together into the shaker, make sure to only put a dash of pomegranate juice in the mix in order to keep the color pink. Shake well, pour into pre-chilled martini glasses. Garnish with alternating colored pansies for a personal touch.