If there is a bolder, more dramatically beautiful pansy in existence, I've never seen it. Bolero just bowls you over with its big, double, fringed blooms in rich colors, all generously marked with everything from merry faces to subtle shading. And though it looks like a hot-house special, this is one weather-tough pansy, grown in sultry Italy for terrific performance in American gardens from north to south.
Every one of these giant 2½- to 3-inch blooms is unique, arising in jewel tones of violet, burgundy, blue, rose, and yellow, plus dazzling white for contrast. They arise all over these compact 10- to 12-inch-tall, 6- to 7-inch-wide plants, blooming equally well in spring and fall.
Europeans have been enjoying Bolero for several years now, but it is very difficult to find in this country. Developed by Italy's premier flower breeder, this is a first-class hybrid that just takes off in your sunny garden. And if you like the looks of Bolero, try our other Italian discovery (from the same breeder), the breathtaking Acquarelle Mix.
Bolero is suited for either the garden or containers, flourishing in beds, borders, patios, and accent plantings. It is a window box mainstay, and does well in mixed container plantings, too. Given full sun and moist, well-drained soil, it will bloom in spring and fall in cool northern climates, and right through winter in the mild south and southwest.
