In this quick guide, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about growing pansies. We’ll cover the essentials to keep your garden looking bright, including:
- Planting tips
- General care
- Common pests and diseases
- How to propagate them
What Exactly Are Pansies?
Pansies are part of the Viola genus, which belongs to the Violaceae family. There are over 500 different species of violets found all over the world, mostly in temperate regions. The ones you’ve likely seen at your local garden center are:
- Garden Pansies
- Horned Violets (Viola cornuta)
- Sweet Violets
- Wild Pansies (Johnny Jump-Ups)
Depending on the variety, these beauties can be annuals, biennials, or perennials, and they are surprisingly hardy when the temperature drops. Thanks to modern breeding, you can find them in almost every color and pattern imaginable!
How to Plant Your Pansies
Garden pansies and horned violets are absolute staples for balcony boxes and flower beds alike. If you want to enjoy their edible blooms for as long as possible, you should plant them in the spring or fall. Here is what they need in terms of a location:
- Full sun to partial shade
- Moist, humus-rich soil
- Consistently damp (but not soggy!) soil
- Good drainage to avoid standing water
- At least 4 inches (10 cm²) of space per plant
Caring for Your Pansies
Pansies are pretty low-maintenance. The main thing is to keep the soil lightly moist. When it comes to fertilizing, less is more. If they’re in the ground, a little compost does the trick. For container plants, a standard liquid fertilizer works great. To stretch out that blooming season, make sure to deadhead the spent flowers regularly. If you have perennial varieties, give them a pruning once a year and divide them every three years to keep them looking fresh. Even though they’re tough, a little extra mulch for overwintering is always a good idea.
Common Pests and Diseases
Pansies aren’t usually magnets for trouble, and most issues actually stem from improper care (like overwatering). However, keep an eye out for these common culprits:
- Root rot
- Powdery and downy mildew
- Gray mold (Botrytis)
- Leaf spot
How to Propagate Pansies
If you want more plants, you can propagate pansies by either dividing the root ball or sowing seeds. A little pro-tip: pansies grown from seed in your own garden often turn out to be much more resistant to frost and disease than store-bought ones!
