The newest Texas Superstar plant – the pansy – is a versatile, tough, durable cold-hardy ornamental that provides color during an otherwise drab time of year.
Pansies are one of the most popular annual garden flowers for the landscape, said Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture program specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.
They come in a wide range of colors, including shades of purple, blue, yellow, orange and white. The flowers typically have a dark center called the “face” or “blotch,” which contrasts with the lighter-colored petals.
Winski said there are also “clear” flowers with no markings on their petals. To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must perform well for growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must also be easy to propagate, ensuring the plants are widely available and reasonably priced.
