its the cold weather I think-- I'm just relieved that they survived -12 and I'm hoping that with a bit of spring sunshine the'll perk up

they wil perk up once it warms up. mine in the lea of the wall have perked up no end.

Casso, here's a piece of info for you- these plants don't grow at all over winter, so if you buy them quite late, say October, as big as they are then is as big as they're going to get until the following spring. They may flower sporadically throughout milder spells in the winter, but they don't actually grow - until the weather warms up in spring, when you'll probably find by April they're in full, glorious bloom, and getting larger, to the point that it seems a shame to remove them in May to replace with summer bedding...

My personal view is that winter flowering pansies are a con. at least up here... they just sit looking miserable all through the winter with nary a flower to be seen. Then as Bamboo says they flower in spring when everything else is flowering. We used them in half whisky barrels for a couple of years and then gave up.

I'd imagine they would be a waste of money up there, Moongrower - they only flower even in the south when the weather is reasonably mild, going rapidly back to sleep along with everything else when its very cold.

I had violas this year and under all that snow and frost they did as Bamboo says show the odd flower but I like to see them in my tubs just near the house-- the're underplanted with bulbs too

Thank you all for the replies. That has put my mind at rest as I thought I had done something wrong. I look forward to seeing them bloom in the Spring

Mine don't look too clever either yet - i think they're waiting for a bit of heat!!