Learn how to grow pansies, the cheerful, low-maintenance flower that thrives in cool weather. Discover expert tips on planting, care, and pest control for stunning fall and spring blooms that will brighten your garden or patio.
Imagine a burst of vibrant colors adorning your garden or patio even as the weather cools down. That’s the fun of growing pansies! They are cheerful, cold-hardy flowers that thrive in both fall and spring.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or a novice gardener, pansies are a fantastic choice to add a touch of whimsy and cheer to your landscape. Let’s chat about how to grow pansies and discover how to use these pretty blooms to spruce up your garden spaces.
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Learn how to grow pansies flowers with these simple tips.
Understanding Pansies Flowers
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) thrive in USDA hardiness zones 7-11, favoring cool temperatures of 40° F at night to 60° F during the day, making spring and fall ideal planting seasons. They generally don’t survive hot summers, but when planted in fall, they can often return after winter in some zones.
Surprisingly, even in zone 6 gardens like mine, pansies planted in fall can bounce back in spring, offering two seasons of color. These cool-season annuals are low-maintenance, providing weeks of blooms with minimal effort. Pansies are popular for their wide range of colors and markings, often featuring cheerful “faces.” In areas with mild winters, they can even bloom continuously.
These compact plants grow quickly, reaching about 8 inches in height and spread. However, they are not deer resistant flowers and need protection. Various deer repellent options are available to safeguard your pansies.
- Genus: Viola
- Common Name: Pansy
- Plant Type: Annual/Biennial/Perennial
- Hardiness Zone: 6-10
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Requirements: Well-drained, rich soil
- Height: 6-9 inches
- Width: 6-12 inches
- Flower Color: Various colors (purple, yellow, blue, white, red, orange)
- Foliage Color: Green
- Bloom Time: Fall, Winter, Spring
Planting Pansies
Pansies thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic or neutral soil rich in organic matter. If unsure about your soil, a soil test is recommended.
They generally prefer full to partial sun, tolerating more sun in cooler climates and needing afternoon shade in warmer regions.
Planting is simple: choose a sunny or partially shaded spot with well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Plant them 6 inches apart, digging holes twice the size of the rootball. Fan the roots, place in the hole, backfill with soil, and water well.
These versatile flowers suit low borders, front of borders, containers, and window boxes. They complement other flowers like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and chrysanthemums, blooming soon after early bulbs and continuing until summer flowers appear.
A slow release fertilizer works well during the growing season. It’s a great set-and-forget approach that makes it easier to feed them.
How to Care for Pansies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Pansies are super easy flowers to grow. They really don’t require much if you don’t have a lot of time, making them a great flower for beginners or those who need a plant that’s less needy. And they are relatively pest and disease free too.
Here’s what you need to know.
- Watering: Water the base of plants where roots need it the most. Avoid overhead watering as it is less efficient and can promote unwanted pest and disease problems
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming and prevent seed formation. While deadheading is encouraged, I don’t always get a chance to deadhead my pansies flowers and they still bloom really well all season long.
- Fertilizing: Feed your pansies with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting to promote healthy growth.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your pansies to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pruning and Pinching: Trim back leggy growth or prune pansy plants if they become straggly. Pinching back the stems can promote bushier growth and more blooms.
- Winter Protection: In colder regions, protect pansies from harsh winter conditions with a layer of mulch. In my zone 6a garden, I just leave them be and they bounce back the following spring.
Common Pest and Disease Problems With Pansies Flowers
In general, pansies are pretty pest and disease free. But even with the best care, pansies can sometimes fall victim to problems. Being able to identify and address these issues promptly is crucial for maintaining healthy plants and vibrant blooms. Here are some common culprits and how to address them organically.
Battling Aphids, Spider Mites & Slugs on Pansies: Organic Pest Control Solutions
- Aphids: These tiny, sap-sucking insects can cluster on leaves and stems, causing them to wilt or become distorted. A strong spray of water or insecticidal soap can often help control them.
- Spider Mites: These minuscule pests can be difficult to see, but their telltale signs include fine webbing and stippled leaves. Increase humidity and use a miticide if necessary.
- Slugs and Snails: These slimy critters love to munch on pansy leaves and flowers, especially at night. Handpick them, use diatomaceous earth, or set out beer traps.
Pansy SOS: Dealing With Fungal Problems
- Powdery Mildew: This fungal disease appears as a white powdery coating on leaves. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and apply a fungicide if needed.
- Root Rot: Overwatering or poorly draining soil can lead to root rot, causing plants to wilt and die. Ensure proper drainage and avoid overwatering. A fungicide drench can sometimes help if caught early.
- Leaf Spot: This fungal disease manifests as brown or black spots on leaves. Remove affected leaves and avoid overhead watering. A fungicide may be necessary for severe cases.
Prevention is Key
The best way to deal with pests and diseases is to prevent them in the first place. Choose healthy plants, provide proper care, and maintain good sanitation practices in your garden. Regular inspection of your pansies will help you catch any problems early on, when they’re easiest to manage.
Growing Pansies Flowers in Pots
Adding a burst of color to your patio, balcony, or doorstep is easy with potted pansies. These flowers thrive in containers, making them perfect for those new to gardening or with limited space.
Choose a pot with drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter. Plant your pansies at their original depth, spacing them a few inches apart for growth.
Place the pot in a spot with at least six hours of daily sunlight, and water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Container plants may need more frequent watering. A drip irrigation system like this set on a timer simplifies this.
Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for essential nutrients.
With minimal effort, enjoy abundant colorful blooms all season. Pansies are forgiving and tolerate some neglect, making them ideal for all gardeners.
They’re a fantastic choice for beginners due to their:
- Compact Size: Perfect for various container sizes, growing 6-9 inches tall.
- Cool-Season Blooms: Provide color in fall and spring when other plants may not.
- Color Variety: Create stunning displays with diverse colors and patterns.
- Versatility: Mix well with other cool-season annuals like celosia, snapdragons, or ornamental kale.
Potted pansies brighten patios, balconies, and outdoor spaces with their cheerful colors and cool-season beauty.
Growing Pansies Flowers FAQs: Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions
Whether you’re a seasoned or beginner gardener, there are lots of commonly asked questions that can provide valuable insights into the care and cultivation of these charming beauties.
Do pansies come back every year?
Pansies are typically grown as cool-season annuals, which means they are often treated as short-lived plants and replanted each year.
Here in the Northeast, pansies are planted in both the fall and spring to provide colorful blooms throughout those seasons. However, as temperatures rise in the summer, pansies tend to decline and die.
Instead of buying new plants for spring and fall, give it whirl this fall to see if they will overwinter and return in your garden next spring. This is a great way to save money on annual plants while providing seasonal color in your gardens.
Keep in mind, their return is not guaranteed but worth a shot if you’ve never tried it before. Simply leave them be instead of pulling them when doing fall clean up and see how they do in spring.
Do pansies prefer sun or shade?
Pansies prefer full sun to partial shade. If I want to get more time out of them in late spring, I will relocate them to full shade so they can live a bit longer in my zone 6a garden before they completely die out.
I don’t always do this though because I usually only get an extra few weeks out of them and to me, it’s not really worth the effort.
How can I keep my pansies blooming all summer?
Keeping pansies blooming throughout the summer can be a challenge because they are cool-season flowers that die out in the heat of summer.
You can try to keep them going for as long as you can by moving them to shadier locations, mulching them well, and keeping them well-hydrated. But even with these practices, I can’t get them to keep going beyond early July.
So I would keep your expectations low unless you live in a cooler climate where summers are not scorching hot.
Should I cut back pansies?
Yes, cutting back pansies is a good practice to promote healthier growth and extend their blooming season. Here‘s what you need to know.
- Regularly deadheading pansies flowers throughout the growing season encourages them to produce more flowers and keeps them looking tidy. Use your fingers, sharp scissors or garden snips to cut off the dead flowers just above a set of healthy leaves.
- If pansies become tall and leggy with long, straggly stems, trim them back to encourage bushier growth. Use clean scissors or garden snips and cut back plant stems by about one-third. This promotes lateral branching and more compact growth.
- After overwintering, in the early spring remove any dead or damaged foliage and trim back leggy growth to clean up the plant.
- If you started them from seed, pinch back the growing tips of young pansy plants when they have developed several sets of leaves. This will stimulate the growth of lateral branches, resulting in a more compact plant and blooms.
Regularly cutting back or deadheading pansies not only keeps them looking tidy but also helps maintain their overall health and encourages a longer blooming season.
How do I propagate pansies?
Because pansies are so readily available, I recommend just buying them when nurseries get them in. I love to grow lots of plants from seed, but pansies are not one of them. For me, I’d rather use my indoor growing space for flowers that are not readily available for purchase than ones I can easily buy at the garden nursery.
Money Saving Garden Tip: If you can only find pansies in larger nursery pots (more often in the fall than spring) and want to save a few dollars, you can divide it to get more plants from them. Here’s how to do it.
- Remove the plant from the nursery container.
- With a hand trowel or even your fingers, divide the plant into small sections.
- Then plant them in the garden or planters.
- Water and fertilize well.
Are pansies edible?
Yes, pansies are edible and they are often used as decorative additions to salads, cakes, desserts, and other culinary creations. Their vibrant and delicate flowers add a pop of color and a mild, slightly grassy or wintergreen flavor to dishes.
But a few words of caution before snipping pansies for a recipe.
- Only choose flowers that have not been treated with any form of pesticide
- Select plants that are certified as organically grown or grow your own
- If found in your local grocery produce department, they are specifically grown for consumption and are safe to eat.
- Never use roadside flowers
- Garden nursery plants may have been treated with fertilizers and pesticides, so these are not great options for using as edibles.
- Purchase edible flowers from a reputable florist, nursery, or market where they can guide you to what is safe for consumption.
When using pansies in food, it’s important to keep the following guidelines in mind.
- Choose edible varieties using the guidelines above.
- Always rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Use the petals only.
- Pansies are often used to decorate cakes, pastries, and other desserts. They can also be used to garnish salads, soups, and appetizers.
- You can candy pansy petals by brushing them with a light coating of egg white, sprinkling them with sugar, and allowing them to dry. Candied pansies make lovely decorations for cakes and sweets. I’ve never done this before but would try it!
- Freeze pansy petals in ice cubes to add a touch of elegance to your beverages. It can really level up a cocktail!
Final Thoughts on Growing Pansies Flowers
With their cheerful faces and vibrant colors, pansies are a fun addition to any garden, patio, or balcony. Their resilience and adaptability make them perfect for both seasoned gardeners and beginners, and their long blooming season ensures months of enjoyment.
Whether you choose to plant them in the ground or in pots, pansies are sure to bring a smile to your face every time you see them. So why wait? Embrace the joy of growing pansies and add a touch of whimsy and color to your world.
Do you love to grow pansies too? Have you ever tried planting them in fall so they bounce back in spring? Have you ever started pansies from seed?
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear! And feel free to share this post with anyone you think would find it helpful too.
To drill down on more beginner gardening techniques and tips, please read these posts:
For. more information about growing pansies, please read: Utah State Cooperative Extension
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
