The garden pansy is a type of polychromatic large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section Melanium of the genus Viola, particularly V. tricolor, a wildflower of Europe and western Asia known as heartsease.
Pansy blooms are fragrant and edible. They originated in England in the 1800s and are closely related to violas, their ancestor genus containing over 500 species. They are now very popular in North America and other places.
Pansies have heart-shaped, clustered petals that give the flowers the appearance of having a face. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns and are relatively hardy plants that are adaptable to many hardiness zones. They generally grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall and are great plants for containers. They also work well in borders or as ground cover plants. Pansies can be grown as perennials, but they are more often grown as annuals since they are relatively intolerant of high heat.
Annual and perennial pansies come in a seemingly endless color palate, and perennial pansies bloom from early spring through late fall. You can find both types in single, bicolor and tricolor varieties, and their markings are typically described as blotches, whiskers, faces and eyes. These cheerful, easy-to-grow perennials do best in a place with any type of soil with average moisture and full sun to partial shade.
Pansy colors include blue, orange, pink, white, yellow, red, purple, orange, lavender and bronze. Some pansies are all one color, and some are multicolored.
Growing Pansies
Pansies prefer full or partial sun, so choose an appropriate planting site or a place for their containers. Since pansies grow best in cooler temperatures, they make great winter flowers for pots. For container pansies, especially in summer, choose a location that doesn’t get a lot of strong afternoon sun. Well-draining, loamy and slightly acidic or neutral soil is ideal. You can use potting soil for planting pansies in containers. Generally, it is easier to transplant pansy starts rather than to grow them from seed.
When planting in the ground, space pansies 7 to 12 inches apart, and if you are using containers, choose vessels that are 12 inches or less in diameter so you can move the pots if needed. You can plant pansies in the early spring (once soil temperatures are at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit), and they will continue until the weather becomes too warm. You can also plant them in the fall (once soil temperatures are 65 degrees or lower), and they may keep blooming into the winter depending on your climate. Water pansies regularly and use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed them.
Annual Pansies Varieties
| Type/Variety | Flower Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Delta® Premium Pure Yellow | Yellow | Vibrant yellow flowers with dark centers. It is early blooming, ideal for borders and containers. |
| Swiss Giants Mix | Mixed Colors | Large blooms in colors such as purple, yellow, white, and blue. Plants with excellent cold tolerance. |
| Joker Mix | Purple and White | Distinctive blooms with purple and white petals and dark centers. Uniform growth, perfect for edging beds. |
| Matrix® Sunrise | Orange and Yellow | Striking combination of orange and yellow flowers with dark blotches. Suitable for early spring planting. |
| Cool Wave® Frost | Lavender | Cascading habit with lavender-colored flowers. Great for hanging baskets, window boxes, and ground cover. |
| Maxim Marina | Blue | Rich blue blooms with a velvety texture. Ideal for mass plantings and borders. |
| Inspire® Plus Rose | Rose Pink | Delicate rose pink flowers with dark blotches. Compact and floriferous, perfect for spring gardens. |
| Nature Frost | White | Pure white blooms with yellow centers. Vigorous growth and cold tolerance, suitable for early spring planting. |
| Universal Violet | Violet | Intense violet flowers with contrasting yellow markings. Free-flowering, suitable for beds and containers. |
| Majestic Giant Mix | Mixed Colors | Large blooms in assorted colors including purple, yellow, white, and orange. Plants with excellent heat tolerance. |
| Sorbet Mix | Mixed Colors | Diverse mix of pastel to vibrant hues. Plants with good weather tolerance. |
| Adonis Yellow Blotch | Yellow with Blotch | Bright yellow flowers with dark blotches. Perfect for borders and rock gardens. |
| Frizzle Sizzle Mix | Mixed Colors | Unique frilly flowers in various colors like pink, purple, and blue. Plants with a whimsical appearance, great for containers and borders. |
| Spring Matrix Mix | Mixed Colors | Early blooming mix with flowers in shades of purple, yellow, white, and blue. Suitable for early spring bedding. |
| Winter Flowering Mix | Mixed Colors | Mix of winter-hardy pansies in colors ranging from pastels to rich hues. Suitable for winter landscapes. |
| Black King | Black | Unique black flowers. Interesting when grown in garden beds and borders. |
Perennial Pansies
| Type/Variety | Flower Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny-Jump-Up | Purple, Yellow | Classic variety with small flowers in shades of purple, yellow, and white. Compact growth habit, perfect for naturalizing. |
| Sorbet Lemon Chiffon | Lemon Yellow | Delicate lemon yellow flowers with dark whiskers. Early blooming and ideal for rock gardens and edging borders. |
| Purple Showers | Deep Purple | Profuse bloomer with deep purple flowers and yellow centers. Heat tolerant, perfect for containers and borders. |
| Freckles | Purple and White | Unique blooms with purple petals and white speckles. Great for ground cover and rock gardens. |
| Penny Orchid Frost | Orchid Purple | Soft orchid purple flowers with frosty white edges. Suitable for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. |
| Endurio Lavender Frost | Lavender | Lavender flowers with white accents and yellow centers. Strong and sturdy plants with excellent winter hardiness. |
| Columbine Violet and White | Violet, White | Elegant blooms in shades of violet and white with yellow centers. Tolerates partial shade, perfect for woodland gardens and naturalizing. |
| Etain | Cream | Pale cream flowers with hints of lavender and yellow centers. Long-flowering and ideal for borders and mixed containers. |
| Primrose Brocade | Pastel Colors | Mix of pastel-colored flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and cream. Early blooming, suitable for rockeries and borders. |
| Bowles’ Black | Dark Purple | Deep purple-black flowers with a sweet fragrance. Vigorous spreader, best for naturalistic plantings and cottage gardens. |
| Pink Bicolor | Pink and White | Lovely bicolor flowers with pink and white petals and yellow centers. Great for borders and cottage gardens. |
| Rosy Sorbet | Rosy Pink | Profusion of rosy pink flowers with darker veins and yellow centers. Compact and floriferous, great for containers and window boxes. |
| Blackjack | Black | Unique and dramatic black flowers. Compact and well-branched, good for adding interest to borders and mixed containers. |
| Blueberry Cream | Blue and Cream | Combination of blue and cream flowers. Free-flowering, perfect for adding a pop of color to borders and rock gardens. |
| Freckles (Viola cornuta) | Purple and White | Compact plants with purple and white speckled flowers. Tolerant to many environmental conditions, suitable for edging and mass planting. |
| Columbine | Mixed Colors | Assorted colors including purple, blue, and white. Compact growth habit, ideal for rock gardens and adding color to woodland settings. |
Types of Pansies with Mixed Colors
| Type/Variety | Flower Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Giant Mix | Mixed Colors | Large blooms in colors of purple, yellow, white, and blue. |
| Sorbet Mix | Mixed Colors | Mix of colors from pastels to vibrant hues. Has a good weather tolerance. |
| Majestic Giant Mix | Mixed Colors | Large blooms in assorted colors of purple, yellow, white, and orange. Has good heat tolerance. |
| Frizzle Sizzle Mix | Mixed Colors | Unique frilly flowers in colors of like pink, purple, and blue. |
| Spring Matrix Mix | Mixed Colors | Early blooming mix with flowers in shades of purple, yellow, white, and blue. Suitable for spring. |