How to Grow Pansies in Your Flower Garden

Pansies include about 500 different flower species in the family Violaceae of the genus Viola. Some of the most common pansy varieties include:

1. 1. Garden pansies: The garden pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) is a perennial with large flowers (two to four inches in diameter) that thrives in moist, cool soil. Hardy in USDA hardiness zones six through 10, garden pansies bloom from early spring to early summer in full sun to partial shade. In zones eight through 11, the growing season changes: Garden pansies bloom in the winter months but die in the summer heat. The most popular pansy for home gardeners, this type of pansy is available in a wide variety of colors and attracts butterflies.
2. 2. Johnny-jump-ups: Also known as heartsease, Johnny jump-ups (Viola tricolor) have tiny flowers that are less than an inch in diameter. Originally from Europe, its tendency to self-seed has naturalized this plant in parts of the U.S. and made it a popular choice for groundcover. Johnny jump-ups often have violet upper petals, yellow lower petals, and white petals on each side.
3. 3. Field pansies: The field pansy (Viola bicolor) is a wildflower native to Canada. Field pansies have even smaller flowers (half an inch) than Johnny jump-ups and usually come in two colors: purple and yellow. Their top two petals are long and narrow.
4. 4. Tufted pansies: The tufted pansy or horned viola (Viola cornuta) has one-and-a-half-inch flowers in shades of purple and blue (with the addition of red, orange, and yellow in some cultivars). Like Johnny jump-ups, this variety is often used as ground cover. It is lightly fragrant and attracts bees and butterflies.

You can plant pansies in garden beds, and they also do well in containers such as window boxes or hanging baskets. There are three ways to plant pansies:

1. 1. Direct sow pansy seeds. For most zones, you can direct sow pansies in the fall. Seeds will withstand frost and begin to come up in early spring. Spread pansy seeds across the surface of the ground about a foot apart, then cover them with a shallow layer (about an eighth of an inch) of soil. Sunlight kills pansy seeds, so make sure they’re fully covered. In warmer zones (eight through 11), plant pansies in the winter months instead of spring.
2. 2. Start seeds indoors. Start pansy seeds indoors 12 to 14 weeks before the last frost—this will allow you to transplant your pansies outdoors in spring. Plant pansy seeds barely below the surface of the potting soil in a seed-starting tray, and water until just moist. Place the seed tray in the refrigerator for two weeks to mimic the effects of a cool wave. Then, transfer the seed tray to a warm (65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit), well-lit area for germination, and transplant pansies after the last frost.
3. 3. Transplant mature pansies. Purchasing and transplanting full-grown plants from your local garden center is an easy way to plant pansies. Simply remove each plant from its pot, loosen the root ball, and plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil.

Once you've planted your pansies, you’ll find they’re easy to maintain.

1. 1. Fertilize with compost. Garden pansies prefer moist soil with good drainage and plenty of organic matter. During the season, you can fertilize your pansies by applying compost as side-dressing around the base of the plants.
2. 2. Deadhead spent blooms. For continuous blooming, deadhead wilted flowers—or harvest them when they’re fresh; pansy flower petals are edible and make for a beautiful addition to salads and cakes.
3. 3. Cut pansies back in summer. Pansies thrive in relatively cold weather, which means they're some of the first flowers to bloom in spring. When the weather gets hot, they’ll die off. Though some gardeners treat pansies as annual flowers, you can grow pansies as perennials or biennials. Cut the plants back in the summer, and they may bloom again in the fall.

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