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Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Biennial · Violaceae family

Pansy

Viola × wittrockiana

Full sun to part shade 4¾ in–9 in × 9 in–11¾ in Flowers April–June to −73 °F
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size4¾ in–9 in
spacing 7¾ in
FlowersApril–June
PlantingMarch–April, September–October
PruningApril–June
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
averagehumus-richloamy

Watering

Pansy — Watering
keep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

Frost

−73 °F
no winter protection

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

19¾ in3 ft 3⅜ in4 ft 11 in4¾ in–9 inspread 9 in–11¾ in
4¾ in–9 in× spread 9 in–11¾ in

Plant 7¾ in apart.

Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberPruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeedingPruning
Now, in October: a good time for planting (transplant outdoors).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–June · blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange or white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

transplant outdoors: March–April, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–May

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

deadhead spent flowers (April–June)

What to plant now (October) full list in October (243) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 0.29 oz/sq ft a year, if the soil needs it · April–May

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pruning

When and how to prune.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons).

Pansy — Deadhead spent flowers

Deadhead spent flowers

AprMayJun
How to prunePrune lightly: spent flowers.

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

The source says: it is among the ornamental plants susceptible to powdery mildew.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in fall; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand fallPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring onwardsMedium risk

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

The source says: it is among the ornamental plants susceptible to powdery mildew.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in fall; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand fallPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
More about this problem

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
More about this problem

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mold.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
Aphidspest · spring – summer

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mold.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
More about this problem
Downy mildews

Downy mildews

diseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Yellow to brown patches on the upper leaf surface, with a white, gray or purple coating underneath.

When to look

Summer – fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant thinly and control weeds for airflow; in a greenhouse avoid leaves staying wet for long.
  2. By handPick off and destroy affected leaves as soon as they appear; remove heavily affected plants.
Downy mildewsdisease · summer – fall

What you will see

Yellow to brown patches on the upper leaf surface, with a white, gray or purple coating underneath.

When to look

Summer – fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant thinly and control weeds for airflow; in a greenhouse avoid leaves staying wet for long.
  2. By handPick off and destroy affected leaves as soon as they appear; remove heavily affected plants.
More about this problem
Sources (6)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does pansy flower?

In April–June; the flowers are blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange or white.

Does pansy tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does pansy need?

At maturity 9 in–11¾ in wide and 4¾ in–9 in tall; recommended spacing 7¾ in.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants. Evening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).

Aphids — what can you do?

Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them. Wipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.

Sources (14) Checked 17 October 2026

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