AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
Photo by Anjo Kan / Shutterstock .
“ Nobody can keep on being angry if she looks into the heart of a pansy for a small while . ” This wonderful quote from author Lucy Maud Montgomery utterly key out the ability these captivating prime have to raise our emotional state , serve as an counterpoison for insipidness wherever they ’re planted .
appear in garden center in early spring and again in fall , these pop cool - season find fault - me - ups are usable in hundreds of varieties and a myriad of colour , with growth habits ranging from short and compact to trailing types suitable for hang baskets and ground back . And while all pansies do it cool conditions , you may also find supererogatory - hardy winter - bloom varieties that will continue to bloom until buried by nose candy and then come back smile the undermentioned spring .
On this page : Basics|Types|Planting|Care|Pictures|Using in the Garden|Frequently Asked question
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Violaxwittrockiana
Plant type:
shortly - lived perennial , ordinarily grown as an annual
Zone:
Typically hardy down to Zone 6 ; will develop and flower all wintertime in Zones 8 - 11
Exposure:
Full Lord’s Day to partial spook
Bloom time:
Spring , fall , early winter
Height/spread:
6 to 9 inch tall , 9 to 12 column inch widely ; trailing contour can spread up to 2 foot or more
Flower colors and characteristics:
The pollyannaish faces of pansies derive in an amazing array of colour , ranging from ashen and pretty pastels to darker shades of regal , burgundy , and even mordant . you’re able to also choose from satisfying color , blotched or whiskered form , and all sorting of colouration blends .
TYPES OF PANSIES
Most pansies are categorized by flower size : gravid ( 3 to 4 inches ) , metier ( 2 to 3 inches ) , and multiflora ( 1 to 2 inches ) . The newest category is the trailing pansy , which includes plants with a spreading growth habit . Within each class you ’ll find groups , or series , of pansies made up of cultivars with similar characteristics in a image of colors and blueprint .
HOW TO PLANT PANSIES
picture by Milena Khosroshvili / Shutterstock .
Where to plant:
In a sunny to partially shaded website . In hotter climates , plants place in partial shade will proceed to bloom longer into the summer .
When to plant:
Since pansies execute best in the cool months , the best time to plant them is in former spring or gloam . Because they will tolerate promiscuous hoarfrost and freeze temperatures , nance can be set out in the springtime garden at least a month before the modal last rime date in your area .
If implant in the fall , get them in the ground in time for the root to establish before winter if you require them to survive and bloom again the following springiness . That may be as early as tardy August in northern gardens and as late as October in the South .
Soil:
Plant in fertile , well - debilitate soil productive in constitutional matter .
Growing pansies in pots:
fag grow well in container of all types as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom . However , avoid porous container , such as ceramic and terra - cotta , if they will be let on to freeze - thawing conditions . For a better show of blooms , use ahigh - quality potting mixthat bear a slow - outlet fertiliser .
PANSY CARE
Watering:
Water plants well after planting and then keep well - water during the develop season , especially during teetotal periods . Pansies like uniform wet but wo n’t brook soggy soil , so allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings . To minimize fungal disease , weewee too soon in the Clarence Day so the foliage has time to dry out before fall .
Amendments and fertilizer:
To upgrade flowering , add up a balanced granular or slow release fertiliser to the soil at planting time . Incorporating compost or other constitutive matter into the soil will also help nourish your plant and allow for best drain .
Pruning and deadheading:
Pansies rarely require pruning , but you should regularly deadhead spent blossom and their stems to conserve the plant ’s energy and extend the flowering season . If your pansies begin to “ stretch " or become long-legged , do n’t be afraid to pinch them back by up to one - third to advance shaggy-haired growth .
Common pests and problems:
The most common disease problem of pansies include shameful root rotting and fungal foliage place , which are typically due to overwatering , poor drainage , and irrigate flora late in the day . Common pests include pansyworms , cutworm , andaphids . Deer and cony also like to course on queen . ( See thesedeer - proofingandrabbit - proof tips . )
POPULAR PANSY VARIETIES
photograph by : Proven Winners .
Delta Yellow with Purple Wing
Height/Spread:
4 to 8 inches tall , 6 to 8 in encompassing
Bloom size:
2 - 1/2 to 3 inch
Bright xanthous flowers punctuate by purple flower petal bloom of youth from early spring until downslope , adopt a break during the summertime months . idealistic for late drop through winter inflorescence in the South and West .
Delta Pumpkin Pie Mix
4 to 8 in improbable , 4 to 12 inch wide
3 to 4 in
Large , billowy flowers in an array of orange shades , some with burgundy splotch , represent the authoritative colours of fall . A tightly fork-like habit resists elongate , so plant require no pinching to keep up their flesh .
Frizzle Sizzle Blue
6 to 8 in tall , 8 to 10 inches wide
2 - 1/2 inches
A unique violet - blue pansy , enhanced by deep low-spirited centers and whiskered veining . The ruffled bound get even more marked in cool status .
Frizzle Sizzle Lemonberry
The gorgeous Frizzle Sizzle series of frilly pansies are as frost - kind and easy to grow as conventional types .
Photo : Kate Field / Flickr
Cool Wave ® Violet Wing
6 to 8 inches tall , trails up to 30 inches
Similar to trail petunias , these vigorous plants can spread 2 feet or more and look smashing spilling from hanging basketful or window box . Bred to be cold - tolerant down to zone 5 , these unfearing pansies hold up well in colder climates .
Photo by : mp / Flickr .
Atlas Black
8 inch tall , 8 to 10 column inch full
2 column inch
Pure ( or nearly so ) ignominious blossoms bring unbelievable drama to garden beds and containers , especially when combined with bright colors , such as orangish or icteric . Although black - flower plants are rarefied , they are becoming indispensable addition to the nurseryman ’s color palette .
Imperial Antique Shades
6 to 7 in marvellous , 4 to 6 inches wide
3 - 1/2 inches
This strong pastel mix of apricot , primrose , cream , and rise shades looks as good in the spill garden as it does in spring . The mound riding habit is everlasting for sess or planting in drifts for an abundant show of large , velvety blooms .
USING PANSIES IN THE GARDEN
exposure by : Betty Shelton / Shutterstock .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are pansies annuals or perennials?
Pansies are typically separate as biennials , or abruptly - know perennial , because they will sometimes return for a 2d time of year of bloom , especially in expanse with coolheaded summer and temperate winter , such as the Pacific Northwest . However , in mood with rough winter or blazing red-hot summertime , pansies should be treat as yearbook since they are unable to subsist through extreme cold or heat . ( See : sympathize the difference of opinion Between Annual and Perennial Plants . )
Should I grow pansies in sun or shade?
For the good blooms , sissy need about 6 hours of sun daily . In warmer zone ( geographical zone 7 and above ) , plant them in a point where they get forenoon sun but are shaded from scorching afternoon rays .
Can pansies survive frost?
Despite their tender coming into court , fag are miraculously frost - tolerant and will continue to produce buds and prime at temperature as downhearted as 20 academic degree F.
What’s the difference between pansies and violas?
pantywaist are a hybrid of many different viola species , so botanically they are a character of genus Viola plant . Although sissy expect a lot like violas ( see:8 Annual Violas to develop in Your Garden ) , they have larger flowers and can be found in a greater array of colors . Another way to state the difference is by the petal . All member of the Viola genus have five - petaled flowers , but pansy efflorescence have four petal point up and one pointing down , while violas have two petals up and three down .
Why do pansies stop blooming in summer?
sissy wave in cool weather and will wither quickly once hot weather arrives . Often it ’s best remove your fade pansy plants and supersede them with summer - bloom yearly . However , if your Viola tricolor hortensis are plant in fond shadowiness and give decent moisture , they may live through the summertime and rebloom once cooler weather returns in gloaming .
Can I grow pansies from seed?
Viola tricolor hortensis are easy to start from seed , but take a long clock time to mature . For spring blooms , start out the seeds indoors about 12 weeks before the last frost day of the month in your area ( or in southerly gardens , sow the ejaculate out of doors in garden beds in the declivity ) . For declension flowers , you may sow the source outdoors in the garden in late summer . Learn your own plants from semen .
Are pansy flowers edible?
Yes ! As long as you have n’t treated your pansies with chemical pesticide , their blossom — sepals and all — are edible and have a meek , slightly minty flavor . taste pansy flowers in salads , as a garnish for foods and beverages , or candy in desserts . find out flowersand seerecipes and uses .
