The Colossus Pansies

A big bloom of Pansy ‘Colossus Yellow Blotch’

Syngenta bred the Colossus Pansy for the southern market where heat is an issue during the Pansy season. Our autumns in Cincinnati are on the edge of that zone—not too hot, but close enough that we can take advantage of the edge Colossus brings to the table. There are lots of Pansy varieties out there but here are three solid reasons why we like Colossus for our area:

Mustard ‘Red Giant’—less frilly and more open than the standard ‘Nagoya Red’ 

Ornamental Mustard ‘Red Giant’ is a beautiful variety offering a much different look than ‘Nagoya Red’ Kale, the fall standard that’s familiar to most people. ‘Red Giant’ has wider, Savoy-style leaves that are deep reddish-purple, with striking white midribs and chartreuse undersides. They are much less frilly than those of the Kale. You’ll notice that ‘Red Giant’s’ large, upright rosettes are more open in the center—they can reach 18–24 inches tall, whereas ‘Nagoya Red’ comes in at around 12–14 inches.

‘Red Giant’ is available in the 6-inch and 8-inch pot sizes.

 
‘Irish Eyes’ is a Black-Eyed Susan with green eyes

For the Rudbeckia look with a bit of a surprise, we recommend beguiling ‘Irish Eyes’. Bright golden yellow petals surround an unusual pale green eye. It’s a much brighter effect that can be used to lighten autumn beds, complement other Rudbeckia varieties, attract beneficial pollinators, or fill a pot at the end of the rainbow.

Unique, eye-catching blooms are great for planting up close

Flowers on ‘Irish Eyes’ measure around 5 inches and the plants reach about 2-1/2 to 3 feet tall. Remember, though, that the height of a Rudbeckia can vary depending on the amount of water it gets. We like to plant these unique eye-catching blooms up close in containers or mixed beds where they can smile back as visitors get a good look at them.

‘Irish Eyes’ is available in the 8-inch pot.