Last week’s premiere of our #ChatWithCharlie garden series with Charlie Thigpen of Charlie Thigpens Garden Gallery was so popular that we are extra excited to share with you this week’s post! Today’s topic is all about fall and winter’s most popular blooms: Pansies vs. Violas What makes these two flowers ideal for planting in the cooler seasons? “Pansies and violas are the most reliable winter blooming annual for Birmingham,” Charlie explains. “They will bloom from fall until spring—they typically begin to decline around the end of April.” Pansies and violas are often compared for their similarity, so we’re counting on Charlie’s expertise on to distinguish these two blooms from each other. Says Charlie, “The main difference between pansies and violas are the leaf and bloom sizes. Pansies have larger foliage and flowers. The violas have smaller blooms but tend to be more prolific than pansies.” If you’re looking for a bigger impact, Charlie recommends choosing pansies over violas for their larger bloom size. And if you think pansies are the same old flower they’ve always been, think again. “Over the last couple of years, we have seen some trailing pansies that are now available,” says Charlie of this new pansy variety that has become a favorite amongst gardeners. “These new varieties grow flat and spill out of planters, creating a nice cascading effect.” The cascading nature of trailing pansies makes them ideal for a dramatic container or window box arrangement—Charlie’s top trailing choices are “Free Fall” and “Cool Wave” pansies. So, what is Charlie’s #1 “green thumb” tip for planting pansies and violas? “To grow pansies, you need 4-5 hours of sun,” he explains. “To keep pansies and violas blooming at their best, you should remove spent blooms. This is called deadheading and keeps them from going to seed.” Aside from the bright color pops they add to a yard, pansies and violas add an unexpected element to each garden they inhabit. “One thing most gardeners dont realize is that many pansies and violas are extremely fragrant,” says Charlie. “The yellow Matrix pansies have a strong fragrance, and violas such as Penny Azure Dawn, Penny Peach Jump-up, Sorbet XP Orange, and Sorbet White Jump-up are also sweetly scented.” Okay, we’re convinced—it’s time we add some pretty pansies and violas to our winter garden! This weekend, pay a visit to Charlie at his Garden Gallery, a hidden gem tucked between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave South in Pepper Place. Be sure to join us next Thursday at 8 AM for next week’s topic, where Charlie will share the steps to take this fall in order to have a beautiful garden by spring.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 14:00:00 +0000
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