About Pansies

Pansies are perennial plants that grow 6–12 inches tall, depending on the variety. These beautiful blooms grow in shades of yellow, red, mahogany, blue, purple, pink, orange, white, and black!

When to Plant Pansy Seeds

Start sowing indoors about 10–12 weeks before the last frost.

Where to Plant Pansy Seeds

Pansies like partial shade and do best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8–7.2. In cool climate areas, they tolerate full sun. Add mulch to keep the soil cool and moist.

How to Plant Pansy Seeds

It may seem counterintuitive, but not all seeds should be exposed to light! Pansy seeds need darkness to germinate. So make sure the seeds are completely covered when planting.

Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and cover them lightly with peat moss as darkness is required for germination, which usually occurs within 7–10 days of sowing. You can transplant your seedlings into your garden after all danger of frost has passed. When transplanting into your garden, seedlings should be spaced 9–12 inches apart.

How to care for pansies

Remove spent flowers to extend blooming season and use a balanced liquid fertilizer about once a month. Prune squat plants to revitalize them. Watch for pests and act quickly to prevent damage to plants. Common pests include slugs, snails, spider mites and powdery mildew. Fortunately, pansies are deer resistant.