AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
exposure by Anjo Kan / Shutterstock .
“ Nobody can keep on being angry if she looks into the heart of a pansy for a little while . ” This rattling citation from author Lucy Maud Montgomery perfectly describes the power these captivating flowers have to lift our tone , serving as an counterpoison for insipidity wherever they ’re embed .
seem in garden centers in former saltation and again in declension , these popular cool - season pick - me - ups are available in hundreds of varieties and a 10000 of colors , with growth habits lay out from shortsighted and compact to trailing type suitable for hanging baskets and ground covering . And while all pansies love cool weather condition , you could also bump extra - audacious wintertime - flowering varieties that will continue to bloom until inter by snow and then come back smiling the following bound .
On this page : Basics|Types|Planting|Care|Pictures|Using in the Garden|Frequently Asked Questions
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Violaxwittrockiana
Plant type:
Short - know perennial , normally grown as an yearly
Zone:
Typically hardy down to Zone 6 ; will uprise and flower all winter in Zones 8 - 11
Exposure:
Full sun to partial wraith
Bloom time:
saltation , fall , early wintertime
Height/spread:
6 to 9 inches magniloquent , 9 to 12 inch astray ; trailing forms can spread out up to 2 foundation or more
Flower colors and characteristics:
The cheerful faces of faggot follow in an amazing array of colors , rove from white and pretty pastel to darker shades of purple , Burgundy wine , and even black . you’re able to also select from firm colors , blotched or whiskered patterns , and all sorts of color blend .
TYPES OF PANSIES
Most pansies are categorized by prime sizing : large ( 3 to 4 inches ) , medium ( 2 to 3 inches ) , and multiflora ( 1 to 2 inches ) . The newest category is the tracking pansy , which includes plants with a spread growth habit . Within each class you ’ll find groups , or series , of pansies made up of cultivars with exchangeable characteristics in a kitchen range of color and convention .
HOW TO PLANT PANSIES
picture by Milena Khosroshvili / Shutterstock .
Where to plant:
In a sunny to part shaded site . In hotter climates , plants aim in fond shade will continue to blossom longer into the summer .
When to plant:
Since pansies perform best in the cooler months , the best time to plant them is in early spring or autumn . Because they will support light frosts and freeze temperatures , pansies can be place out in the leaping garden at least a month before the middling last frost date in your area .
If planting in the fall , get them in the earth in time for the roots to establish before wintertime if you want them to last and blossom again the following spring . That may be as too soon as late August in northern garden and as recently as October in the South .
Soil:
works in fertile , well - drained soil rich in constituent affair .
Growing pansies in pots:
fagot grow well in containers of all types as long as there are drain holes in the bottom . However , deflect poriferous container , such as ceramic and terra - cotta , if they will be exposed to freeze down - warming conditions . For a good show of blooms , utilize ahigh - quality potting mixthat hold a dull - release fertilizer .
PANSY CARE
Watering:
pee plants well after planting and then keep well - watered during the growing season , especially during ironical menstruum . Pansies like consistent wet but wo n’t tolerate soggy soil , so take into account the grunge to dry out fairly between watering . To denigrate fungal disease , water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry before nightfall .
Amendments and fertilizer:
To kick upstairs flowering , bestow a balanced granular or slow release fertilizer to the soil at planting time . incorporate compost or other organic thing into the soil will also help nourish your plants and allow for well drain .
Pruning and deadheading:
queer seldom require pruning , but you should on a regular basis deadhead spend blooms and their stems to keep up the plant ’s zip and strain the flowering time of year . If your pansies begin to “ extend " or become tall-growing , do n’t be afraid to pinch them back by up to one - third to encourage bushy ontogeny .
Common pests and problems:
The most common disease problems of poove admit inglorious ascendent putrefaction and fungous leaf spots , which are typically triggered by overwatering , poor drainage , and watering works of late in the daytime . vulgar pestilence admit pansyworms , cutworm , andaphids . Deer and rabbit also care to feed on pansies . ( See thesedeer - proofingandrabbit - proofing tips . )
POPULAR PANSY VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
Delta Yellow with Purple Wing
Height/Spread:
4 to 8 inch improbable , 6 to 8 inches wide
Bloom size:
2 - 1/2 to 3 inches
Bright yellow flowers stress by royal petals blossom from former spring until fall , taking a break of serve during the summer months . Ideal for late fall through winter blossoming in the South and West .
Delta Pumpkin Pie Mix
4 to 8 column inch grandiloquent , 4 to 12 column inch wide
3 to 4 inches
Large , billowy flowers in an array of orangish shade , some with burgundy blotches , represent the Hellenic colors of fall . A tightly branched habit resists stretching , so plants involve no pinching to maintain their bod .
Frizzle Sizzle Blue
6 to 8 inches marvellous , 8 to 10 inches wide
2 - 1/2 inches
A unique reddish blue - blue pansy , enhanced by deep aristocratical centers and whiskered veining . The frilled edges get even more marked in cool conditions .
Frizzle Sizzle Lemonberry
The gorgeous Frizzle Sizzle series of frilly pansies are as frost - tolerant and easy to grow as conventional type .
picture : Kate Field / Flickr
Cool Wave ® Violet Wing
6 to 8 inch tall , trails up to 30 inches
like to go after petunias , these vigorous plant can spread 2 feet or more and look great spilling from hanging baskets or windowpane boxes . Bred to be stale - tolerant down to zone 5 , these hardy pansies hold up well in cold clime .
Photo by : mp / Flickr .
Atlas Black
8 inches tall , 8 to 10 in wide
2 inches
consummate ( or nearly so ) grim blossom bring incredible play to garden beds and container , peculiarly when combined with brighter colors , such as orangish or yellow . Although pitch-black - flowering plant life are rare , they are becoming indispensable add-on to the nurseryman ’s color palette .
Imperial Antique Shades
6 to 7 inch tall , 4 to 6 inches all-encompassing
3 - 1/2 inches
This tender pastel mixture of apricot , primrose , emollient , and rose shades looks as good in the fall garden as it does in natural spring . The mound habit is perfect for kitty or planting in drifts for an abundant show of bombastic , velvety flush .
USING PANSIES IN THE GARDEN
Photo by : Betty Shelton / Shutterstock .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are pansies annuals or perennials?
fairy are typically classified as biennial , or short - lived perennial , because they will sometimes hark back for a second season of flush , especially in areas with coolheaded summer and moderate winters , such as the Pacific Northwest . However , in clime with rough winter or blazing red-hot summers , pansies should be treated as annuals since they are unable to survive through uttermost cold or heating plant . ( See : Understanding the departure Between Annual and Perennial Plants . )
Should I grow pansies in sun or shade?
For the secure blooms , pansies require about 6 hours of sun daily . In warm zones ( geographical zone 7 and above ) , plant them in a spot where they get dawning sun but are shaded from scorching afternoon shaft of light .
Can pansies survive frost?
Despite their cutter appearance , pansies are miraculously frost - large-minded and will stay on to bring about bud and flowers at temperatures as lowly as 20 degree F.
What’s the difference between pansies and violas?
Pansies are a hybrid of many different genus Viola mintage , so botanically they are a type of viola works . Although pansies look a lot like violas ( see:8 Annual Violas to Grow in Your Garden ) , they have larger flowers and can be found in a great array of colour . Another way to tell the deviation is by the petals . All members of the Viola genus have five - petaled bloom , but pansy blooms have four petals pointing up and one manoeuver down , while violas have two petals up and three down .
Why do pansies stop blooming in summer?
Pansies thrive in cool weather and will wither quickly once hot weather arrive . Often it ’s best slay your fading pansy plants and replace them with summertime - flowering annuals . However , if your Viola tricolor hortensis are embed in fond shadowiness and given equal wet , they may survive through the summer and rebloom once coolheaded weather returns in fall .
Can I grow pansies from seed?
Viola tricolor hortensis are gentle to bulge from seed , but take a farsighted time to mature . For fountain flush , embark on the seeds indoors about 12 weeks before the last frost date in your expanse ( or in southerly gardens , sow the seeds outside in garden beds in the tumble ) . For fall flowers , you could inseminate the seeds outdoors in the garden in late summertime . Learn your own plants from seed .
Are pansy flowers edible?
Yes ! As long as you have n’t process your pansies with chemic pesticides , their flowers — sepals and all — are edible and have a mild , somewhat minty relish . try out pansy flowers in salad , as a garnish for foods and beverage , or sugarcoat in sweet . hear flowersand seerecipes and U.S.A. .
