Houzz Contributor. I'm a landscape designer and freelance garden writer living in hot and humid Austin, Texas. I co-authored "Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants" (St. Lynn's Press) with Kylee Baumle. Follow me on Twitter @MulchMaven or on my Facebook page, J. Peterson Garden Design.

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There are few flowers more charming than the pansy. Yes, it's one of those blooms that you used to see in your grandma's garden, but there is a reason for its long-standing appeal. Its sunny, cheerful face, combined with low maintenance and a wide range of colors, makes it a classic choice for cooler-weather gardening. While pansies will grow in nearly any zone, they are a great choice for gardeners in the South who want to provide a saturated spectacle in their fall and winter gardens.

by Sherri Fitzgerald »

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Botanical name: Viola
Common name: Pansy
USDA zones: 7 to 11 during the winter; 6 and lower during the summer (find your zone); can overwinter in colder climates once well established.
Water requirement: Consistently moist soil
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Up to 9 inches tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Nonstop blooming and strong color in the garden
Seasonal interest:Dependably blooms through two seasons
When to plant: Fall for southern climates, spring for northern climates.

by J. Peterson Garden Design »

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Distinguishing traits. Pansies have one of three basic color patterns — one solid, clear color; a solid color with black "pencil" markings radiating from the center; or solid color with a dark center. Colors include yellow, purple, lavender, russet, orange, white, red and even black. Some varieties, particularly the yellow and blue ones, have a subtle scent that is most noticeable in the early morning or at dusk.

by J. Peterson Garden Design »

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How to use it. Pansies are unstoppable bloomers in the front of a mixed-perennial or annual bed, as well as features in container plantings.

Use one color or variety for the highest impact, or choose two different colors and plant in masses or blocks. Using a large number of different colors tends to water down the overall effect. Both the leaves and flowers of pansies are edible, perfect for garnishes or for making syrups, flavored honey or salads.

Pair pansies with dusty miller (Senecio cineraria), viola (Viola), English dais (Bellis perennis), sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus).

by Westover Landscape Design, Inc. »

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Planting notes. Plant pansies in a sunny location — they will tolerate some light shade but will become leggy and unattractive if they're grown in deeper shade. Make sure your soil is loose and well drained, and fertilize monthly with a nitrate-based plant food for bigger and more profuse blooms. Keep your pansies consistently moist for optimal health and best results.

More:
Bright Plants for Flower Beds That Wow

Comments

Oliver Designs There is nothing like a planter of pansies at the front door to greet your guests. Mixing up the colors can be fun too!

9 months ago · Like ·

nikimoto I would like to find out more about growing and cooking with pomagrantes.I find them fasinating and havent seen them growing in New Zealand.

9 months ago · Like

Francesca I absolutely adore pansies. Each spring, when living in Kentucky, I would put them in planters on either side of the front walk because of their bright cheerful color. I'm now moving to Indiana (about 20 miles from where I lived in Kentucky) and I will likely do the same thing, even if I have a MUCH smaller yard.

9 months ago · Like

bluejeanroy Thank you for this article. My love of pansies goes back to my early childhood. My grandparents had very steep yard that was terraced. When I was 3 my Grandfather planted one spring all in pansies. He had flat afer flat of them on the porch and the adults were all remarking about their pretty "faces". When I asked where the faces came from my Grandfater smiled and said he painted each one. To this day I smile each spring when I plant my window box of my pansies thinking of my Grandfather paining the faces of each one. I have a picture taken of me that spring holding a bouquet of pansies to my nose smeilling them framed in my pansie decorated bedroom.

9 months ago · Like ·

pawla656 IMPORTANT NOTE: You WILL need to deadhead the spent blooms of your pansies to keep them continually blooming. Pinch as much of the stem as you can, once it has withered. If you skip this step, plants will go to seed and not produce many more flowers.

8 months ago · Like

Barb Tyler I just love Pansies and thier cousins Violas. Color for the Fall and Winter months is a MUST! Until Spring comes around again!

8 months ago · Like

sailorsaturn My mom loves pansies so much. One side of her home's driveway is lined with cinder blocks filled with aged (as in they're at least 20 years old!) pansies. This year, she made me march to the nearest nursery with a sale and buy two dozen different colored pansies to plant throughout my front yard garden and planter tubs while buying half a dozen for her own yard!

4 weeks ago · Like