This is a genus of about 500 species of annuals, biennials, evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous perennials although most of us know them as garden pansies. These are short-lived perennials, which are grown for their colorful flowers.

They are used in beds, borders, edging, and pots, hanging baskets, bouquets, rock gardens.

They need well drained, most soil and full sun - a half-day or more. Require little care. Dead-head to prolong flowering.

Propagation is by seed in containers. Sow any time of the year for plants the next season. Frost hardy.

Spring until summer in the north; fall until spring in zone 8 and warmer.

Q: Am new to planting flowers. I planted pansy in the spring and they have down well until recently. Now they just have sporadic blooms and seem to have vined out. Are they done for the season or is there something I can do to produce more blooms? I have been dead-heading them regularly.

If they are done, what do I do now? Do I pull them out, trim them back, or just let them go to seed and due off.

A: I don't know where you are in the country, but they are probably finished for the year. They will usually self seed and come up again next year, so just let them go to seed and die off.