For over two hundred years, breeders have been working their magic on pansies, focusing on getting those blooms as big as possible and stretching out the flowering season. But there’s been another huge goal behind the scenes: making these beauties tough enough to handle the winter chill.
Cruising Through Mild Winters
The good news? All that hard work paid off. As long as we aren’t dealing with record-breaking deep freezes, pansies are usually total champs outdoors during the winter. They’re especially happy when there’s a nice blanket of snow to act as a natural insulator and keep them cozy.
Extra TLC for Cold Snaps
When the winter air gets dry and the snow is nowhere to be found, your pansies might need a little extra TLC. To protect them from freezing solid, it’s a great idea to tuck them in with a protective layer of mulch, straw, or evergreen boughs. Also, keep an eye on plants in very sunny spots—bright winter sun can actually dry them out faster than you’d think, so a little shade or extra attention goes a long way!
