Pansies Delivery or Pickup

Pansy plants have large flowers that gardeners love. They are actual hybrid plants from the Violet family of wildflowers. The pansy flower grows 2-3 inches in diameter with two slightly overlapping upper petals, two side petals, and one bottom petal. A small beard grows from the center of the flower. Petals are typically white, yellow, purple, or blue. Pansy plants are small, growing only to about 9 inches high. Pansies thrive in sunny areas with good drainage.

The names pansy and violet get used interchangeably, yet differences remain. The pansy has only one petal pointing down, while the violet has three petals that point down. Farmers grow pansies for bedding purposes every year while violets get produced for the more delicate annual and perennial gardens. 

The word pansy has different meanings in different cultures. In French, the word means "thought," and the flower was considered a symbol of remembrance. Italians call the Pansy flammola or little flame. St. Euphrasia, a nun from Constantinople, named it heart's-ease, which means cheerfulness of mind in Greek. In her day, women who forsook marriage for the veil considered the pansy a symbol of humility, hence the term "humble violet."

Modern pansy growers have developed them in yellow, gold, purple, red, orange, violet, and almost black. The pansy can have multiple colors and typically have large, pretty faces. You can find many types of pansies around the world. Perhaps the most famous would be the Joker pansy, winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

While a perennial plant, the pansy usually gets cultivated as a biennial or annual. The first year the plant produces greenery, only bearing flowers and seeds in its second year. After flowering, the pansy dies like an annual.

You can purchase pansies in six-packs from most garden centers, farmers' markets, and even grocery stores. They typically have blooms on them at the time of purchase and can be planted immediately to liven up your garden with color.

Pansies come in multiple colors and are sold in trays of six. Find the colors you like and look for those pansies with a few young flowers and buds that haven't yet opened. The soil should be moist and the petal colors vibrant. Any wilted petals could indicate the plant has aged or was improperly cared for and should be avoided. You don't want to select pansies with broken stems or without buds as these may not produce flowers.

Even the novice gardener can plant pansies. You need to dig a small hole the same size as the tray section that holds the pansy. Gently remove the pansy from the tray with as much dirt as possible and place it in the hole. Pat the loose soil around the pansy's roots, and you're done. Sprinkle fertilizer pellets around the base of the stems and wet the earth for best results. Be sure to plant your pansies in sunny areas with well-drained soil, as shade and pooling water will inhibit the delicate plant.

If you want to spruce up your home, you can purchase pansies using the Instacart app! It's easy and saves you time. All you have to do is add the pansies to your cart and check out. At this point, an Instacart shopper will assemble your order and have it ready for in-store pickup in as little as 2 hours! Some orders may qualify for same-day home delivery.