• Pansies.black pansy image by jeancliclac from Fotolia.com
  
  Pansies are cool-weather-loving perennials grown in flowerbeds and container gardens. They have a mounding growth habit and reach up to 10 inches in height. The fragrant flowers host five rounded petals that surround a "face." Pansies produce black, blue, pastel blue, dusty rose, purple, white and yellow flowers---and make good companion plants since they do not interfere with neighboring plants' growth. Select plants to complement your pansies by mixing various textures, foliage coloring and flower colors.
  
  

Strawflower

• Strawflowers produce 2-inch wide daisy-like blooms in shades of bronze, cream, pink, purple, white and yellow. The flowers bloom on top of stems that reach up to 4 feet in height. The thin, grayish-green-colored lance-shaped leaves provide a contrasting frame for low-growing pansies. Strawflowers bloom from spring until late fall. Frost and overly dry soils typically kill strawflowers.
  
  

Snapdragons

• Snapdragons grow up to 4 to 36 inches. They produce clusters of orange, purple, red, white and yellow flowers along upright stems. Snapdragons thrive in cool weather, and suffer during hot weather. For a colorful backdrop, plant tall varieties of snapdragons behind a row of pansies. The plants complement each other and provide a cascade of color. Snapdragons perform best in soils rich in organic material.
  
  

Garden Mums

• Garden mums have lobed, dark green foliage. The undersides of the leaves are gray. The darker colors compliment brightly colored pansy flowers. Depending on the type of plant, garden mums can grow up to a height of 5 feet. They produce marigold shaped bronze, burgundy, lavender, orange, white and pink flowers. Garden mums can bloom during the early spring but typically bloom during the late summer and fall months.
  
  

Gerbera Daisies

• Gerbera daisies are good companion plants for pansies. Gerbera daisies are perennial flowers that produce blooms from 2 1/2 to 4 inches wide. They produce flowers in shades of peach, pink, red and yellow. The flowers bloom on the end of flower stalks that reach up to 18 inches in height, and the leaves form mounds that measure up to 12 inches wide. The plants bloom from late spring until the first winter frost kills them.
  
  

Carnations

• Carnations are cool-weather flowers that make good companions for pansies. They do not bloom in hot weather. Carnations produce highly fragrant blooms that come in shades of pink, red and white. The 2- to 3-inch wide flowers bloom on the ends of flower stalks that emerge from the grass-like leaves of the plant. The overall height of the plant depends on the variety grown.