One of the most popular flowersโ todayโ! Home gardeners are growingโ pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) from seed for their beautiful, round-faced blossoms and striking foliage. Also known as violas, they are often the gardenโs first seen flowers โand โbloom in a variety of colors โ– โall summer longโ! โCheerful plants are perfect โfor pots, window boxes, rock gardensโย or borders.
Low maintenance pansy plantsโย will provide cool weather colorย and can be overwintered with a good mulching in gardening zones six and higher.ย They are short-lived inย very warm environments.ย Pansies are a self-seeding perennial — grown as an annual in the Northย — that can reach 4ย to 10 inches tall, depending on the variety.
Fun fact: Pansy flowers and leaves are edible and offer super-sized amounts of vitamins A and C.

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Pansy Seeds
Truly historic and extremely beautiful, pansies are often the first to bloom in spring.
View allHeirloom pansies are truly historic and extremely beautiful. Planting instructions are included with each seed packet and shipping is FREE!โ
Quick Guide: Planting, Growing & Caring for Pansies
- Now available in a wide range of colors far beyond the classic yellow and purple
- Prefers partial shade and cool weather; perfect for spring/ fall plantings
- Can survive in average soil, but thrives when organic matter is added
- Edible flowers can be added to salads, cakes and more
- Common pests and diseases are aphids, spider mites, slugs, anthracnose, black root rot and fungal leaf spots
Sunlight: Fullย sun to partial shade
Maturity:ย 60-85ย days from seed to flower
Height:ย 4 to 10 inches
Spacing:ย 6 to 12 inches apart in all directions
Site Preparation
Pansies thrive in cool, well-drained soil. They prefer partial shade, but will tolerate full sun where summers are cool. Add plenty of organic compost or well-aged animal manure to the soil prior to planting to help retain moisture and prevent plants from wilting during the heat of the day (watch our videoย Flower Gardening from the Ground Up).
How to Plant
Pansies may be grown from seed or seedling (see Starting Annual Flowers Indoors to learn more). Mature plants are widely available in cell-packs from local garden centers, greenhouses and nurseries.
Surface sow or barely cover with soil 10- to 12-weeksย before planting outside. Seeds will germinate in 10-14 days. Transplant outdoors when spring temperatures are still cool and a light frost is possible. Set transplants at six-inch intervals and provide deep, weekly waterings to promote strong growth and good flowering.
Remove spent flowers on a regular basis to extend the blooming period and apply a good organic flower fertilizer several times during the gardening season.
Tip: Plant these low-growing flowersย under tall, late-blooming plants to get a jump on summer color.

Insect & Disease Problems
Aphids, spider mites and slugs are a few of the commonย garden pestsย found on pansies. Watch closely andย take the following common sense, least-toxic approach to pest control:
- Remove weeds and other garden debris to eliminate alternate hosts.
- Discard severely infested plants by securely bagging and putting in the trash.
- Release commercially availableย beneficial insectsย to attack and destroy insect pests.
- Spot treat pest problem areas withย diatomaceous earth,ย neem oilย or otherย organic pesticide.
Note: Large irregular holes in foliage and partially eaten seedlings are signs of slug damage. Scatterย Sluggoยฎ, an organic iron phosphate bait, around plants to kill slugs and snails without harming people, pets or wildlife.
Pansy foliage and flowers are susceptible to severalย plant diseasesย includingย anthracnose,ย black root rotย and someย fungal leaf spots.ย To reduce these plantย problems
- Avoid overhead watering whenever possible (useย soaker hosesย or drip irrigation)
- Properly space plants to improve air circulation
- Applyย copper sprayย orย sulfur dustย to prevent further infection
Seed Saving Instructions
Violas or pansies are well known for being self-seeders. Seeds can be collected by cutting the entire plant in late summer after blooming has ceased. Dry plants on a sheet and collect the tiny black seeds. Read our article onย Saving Heirloom Flower Seedsย to learn more.