Pansy ‘Moonface’
This year big pansies are back! In fact, Bedding Plants Australia has chosen a large pansy as their Flower of the Year for 2001. Pansy ‘Moonface’ (Viola x wittrockiana), comes in a spectacular new colour mix guaranteed to cheer you up through the long, cold winter when the rest of the garden is bare.
Endorsing Moonface pansy is Mr ‘Moonface’ himself, Bert Newton, one of Australia’s favourite stars of stage and television. Bert hosts the popular Good Morning Australia show each weekday morning from 9-11 on the Ten Network. “I was delighted and even flattered to have a pansy nicknamed after me! Patti and I love colour in our garden which will feature plenty of Moonface pansy this year.”
Part of the profits from the sale of each punnet will go to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. This organisation aims to help brighten the lives of seriously ill children by granting their wishes.
Plant details
Common name: Pansy ‘Moonface’
Botanic name: Viola x wittrockiana ‘Moonface’
Description
A large, hardy pansy with a distinctive face, like its namesake. Some of the flowers are up to 10cm (4″) across. ‘Moonface’ comes in 10 colours including a new light blue shade not found in pansies in Australia before. There are also light and bright yellows, lots of blues and a rich velvet red in the colour range. They flower from March to October, depending on climate. Flower size is at it biggest in the cooler parts of the growing season.
Climate
‘Moonface’ will perform equally well in both warm and cool areas of Australia, but must be grown through the cooler months of the year in northern and inland Australia.
Care
Pansies can be grown in the garden or in pots, hanging baskets or window boxes. They like a sunny spot through the cooler months but in warm areas (Sydney to Perth and north) light shade in spring and early summer will mean they keep flowering longer. Liquid feed regularly and pick the flowers, or deadhead them, regularly to keep plants blooming.
Getting started
You will find ‘Moonface’ at your local nursery in punnets from $4.50. For donations to the Starlight Children’s Foundation please call 1300 727 827.
Further reading
For more information on new season pansy varieties, see the March edition of the Burke’s Backyard magazine. It’s available at newsagents for $4.60.