Pansy hardiness has always been a constant through the years. However, plant breeders have developed some exceptional series that allow gardeners and landscapers in the northern climes to over-winter established Pansy plants with greater success. The ‘Sky’ series from S&G Seeds has consistently come through the cold winter months of Wisconsin not only with its foliage intact, but with abundant blooms in the months of April and May.

The ‘Sky’ F1 hybrid Pansy series comes in a clear face – ‘Clear Sky’- and a blotched face known as ‘Skyline’. Both offer a profusion of medium 2" flowers that resist deterioration and hold themselves upright on sturdy stems. By growing Pansies under the cool conditions of fall, through winter and into spring, the plants become tough and well-branched with numerous buds waiting to burst open once warmer temperatures arrive.

Another series worth noting is the ‘Delta’ F1 hybrid series, also from S&G Seeds. These Pansies offer the earliest blooming in a large flowering class and do very well under low light or dark spring conditions. The ‘Bingo’ F1 hybrid Pansies from PanAmerican Seeds develop very large 3 ½" blooms with short stems, resulting in the flowers looking up toward the viewer. The ‘Accord’ F1 series from Goldsmith Seeds present a massive show of early 2" blooms in the spring, and shows good weather tolerance as well. All of the aforementioned series offer wide color ranges from every shade of yellow to deep maroons, purples, blues, pinks and even a good, clear orange.

To achieve over-wintering success, these Pansy series have been bred over the years to develop extensive, fast-growing root systems. The better the roots, the better chance the plants will become established and survive our cold winters. With this in mind when purchasing fall Pansies, look for healthy, green foliage with no yellowing or floppiness to the plants. Pop a few out of the pack or pot and look at the root system. It should be to the bottom of the container with plump, healthy, white roots. Any brown or tan roots may indicate disease, which Pansies are especially susceptible to in the early stages of growth.

Pansies prefer acid soils in the 5.5 – 5.9 pH range, so a soil test may be desired if the pH is unknown. A recommended spacing of 4 – 8" apart will give the plants ample room to grow, but more space could be given depending on the bed and gardener’s expectations. Here in the north, where the frost can reach depths of two feet, fall-planted Pansies may be "heaved" out of the ground when the thaw comes around in March and April. To help alleviate this, the root ball can be sliced length-ways approximately one-third to one-half from the bottom toward the top. The roots are gently spread apart and dirt firmly packed in between the two halves, then around the root ball, ensuring the crown of the plant is not covered by soil. The beds are then watered thoroughly and periodically, if needed. No cover is required, but if a gardener is accustomed to covering plants through the winter, a light layer of straw can be spread over the beds.