The Pansy is a hybrid of the Viola and is a member of the Violet family. Pansies tend to have larger blooms than Violas, but they have similar hardiness levels. You will often see Pansies and Violas available at the same times of year.
Pansies are probably best known in the gardening world as the most popular cool-weather annual for northern gardens. They are often the first annual to be planted in those zones. Learn how to plant and grow Pansies right here with our detailed guide for this staple of the cool-season garden!
Table of Contents
Basic Facts
| Common Names | Pansy |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Viola x wittrockiana |
| Family | Violaceae |
| Zones | Usually grown as an annual. Can sometimes over-winter down to Zone 5, and can sometimes over-summer in Zones 7+. |
| Flower Color | Yellow, Orange, Maroon, Purple, Blue, White |
| Height & Spread | Plant Pansies anywhere from 6″ to 12″ apart. Pansies are forgiving of overcrowding. Blooms can range from about 1-4″. Pansy plants normally won’t get much taller than about 9″. They can spread up to 12″ wide. |
How to Grow and Care For Pansies
When to Plant Pansies?
Pansies grow best in cooler temperatures, around 45-65 degrees is the ideal range, but they can tolerate temperatures slightly above and below that range.
For those in northern garden zones: Pansies are ideally planted in March or April once the overnight lows start consistently reaching 40+ degrees. It is possible to stretch this out and plant them earlier when overnight lows are still in the 30’s, but I would suggest mulching around the plant if you are planting them that early. It also might be necessary to cover them each night if you are planting that early. For absolute best results, be patient and wait until the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees or above.
Most times, Pansies won’t survive through the harsh summer heat of northern gardens. However, you can purchase new Pansies in early fall for planting in the garden. They can sometimes last into late November or early December, depending on the weather!
For those in southern garden zones: Since Pansies are a cool-weather plant, they are normally planted in autumn for southern gardeners. Depending on your zone, the ideal time would be between mid-September (zone 6-7) through October (zones 8+).
What Type of Soil Do Pansies Like?
Pansies do best with rich and well-draining soil. If possible, add compost, manure, or leaf mold when planting Pansies in the landscape.
If they are to be planted in containers, use a well-draining commercial potting mix. It might be a good idea to add some extra perlite or vermiculite to the mix to increase the drainage if possible.
Do Pansies Need Sun or Shade?
Pansies prefer full sun to partial shade. Once the temperatures get very warm, it is better to move your pansies to partial shade if they are in a container as they will bloom longer into the season.
How Often to Water Pansies
Pansies like moist, but not overly wet soil. It can be a good idea to allow partial soil drying between waterings, as Pansies will suffer if their roots stay too consistently wet. However, if your Pansies are in containers, they will need to be watered more frequently.
Try and water Pansies in the morning instead of late afternoon or evening, as this will help prevent the growth of plant pathogens.
When to Fertilize Pansies
Fertilize your Pansies once every few weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer during prime growing season. Water the plant before applying the fertilizer. Another option is to use a slow-release fertilizer when planting your Pansies, and then re-applying a few months after the initial application. Always follow the instructions provided with your fertilizer of choice!
Potential Pests & Diseases
- Root rot
- Powdery mildew
- Gray mold
- Aphids
- Slugs
- Snails
Our Top Tips for Success with Pansies
- When watering, don’t get the foliage wet. Pansies are picky about their foliage being wet. This will help reduce the incidence of disease.
- Regular deadheading = increased blooming! I especially like to be sure I’m regularly deadheading after first planting my Pansies. This helps them to become a more bushy and robust plant.
- When selecting Pansies from the garden center, resist the temptation to pick plants that already have a bunch of blooms. It is actually much better to select a younger plant that is nice and green and hasn’t necessarily bloomed a bunch yet. I also like to make sure the plants aren’t already extremely root bound in their nursery pots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Pansies Survive Winter?
If you live in Zone 6 or above, Fall-planted Pansies will normally survive an average winter. I have also had success with getting Pansies to return even here in zone 5. To increase your chances of your Pansies returning, you need to plant them in one of the warmer areas of your yard, as well as mulch around the plant with regular commercial mulch, pine straw, etc.
What is the Lowest Temperature Pansies Can Tolerate?
Pansy Plants will start to wilt and die off once temperatures reach about 25 degrees or below. The leaves will start to turn a grayish color at this point. Pansies are normally able to bounce back from a light, short-lived frost, even if it dips down to the single-digits.
Can Pansies be Brought Indoors for Winter?
Another option is to bring your Pansies indoors for the coldest months. This works best if you are able to bring them in their original planter instead of taking them out and cutting/disturbing their root system. I normally bring my Pansies indoors when the nighttime lows start consistently reaching the high 20’s or below. If you live in a northern growing zone, I don’t suggest attempting this unless you will be putting them under a grow light.