Pansy Planting Guide

June

pansy this month

This page is about pansy in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 70–90

Plant depth 0.3″

Spacing 7″

How to water pansy
About an inch of water a week keeps pansy happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put pansy
pansy wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant pansy. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Your pansy planting calendar by county →

Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) are beloved cool-season annuals offering some of the widest color range in the annual garden. Their cheerful "faces" appear in early spring — or even late winter in mild climates — and hold up remarkably well through frosts. Heat causes them to go leggy and stop blooming; replace with warm-season annuals once daytime temps exceed 70°F.

Viola × wittrockiana · Flower · Violaceae family · 70–90 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Pansy is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Pansy Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Pansy?

Zone Compatibility for Pansy Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Feb 20	—	May 15	Jul 10 – Aug 21
Zone 3b	Feb 15	—	May 10	Jul 5 – Aug 16
Zone 4a	Feb 18	—	May 6	Jul 1 – Aug 19
Zone 4b	Feb 13	—	May 1	Jun 26 – Aug 14
Zone 5a	Feb 14	—	Apr 25	Jun 20 – Aug 15
Zone 5b	Feb 7	—	Apr 18	Jun 13 – Aug 15
Zone 6a	Jan 30	—	Apr 10	Jun 5 – Aug 7
Zone 6b	Jan 23	—	Apr 3	May 29 – Aug 7
Zone 7a	Jan 14	—	Mar 25	May 20 – Jul 29
Zone 7b	Jan 7	—	Mar 11	May 6 – Jul 29
Zone 8a	Dec 28	—	Feb 22	Apr 19 – Jul 26
Zone 8b	Dec 17	—	Feb 4	Apr 1 – Jul 22
Zone 9a	Dec 2	—	Jan 13	Mar 3 – Jun 2
Zone 9b	Nov 16	—	Dec 21	Feb 8 – Apr 26
Zone 10a	—	—	Nov 20	Jan 1 – Mar 12
Zone 10b	—	—	Nov 13	Dec 25 – Mar 5

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Direct Sow shows "—" because Pansy benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.

How to Plant Pansy

0.3"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

10"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.4 – 6.2

Prefers slightly acidic soil. Most garden soils work well.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Violaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Violaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Pansy

Pansy matures in just 70–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Pansy

✅ Good Companions

Lettuce Spinach Kale Carrots Radishes

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Pansy

Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost for spring transplants. In zones 6+, fall planting (8-10 weeks before first frost) gives overwintering plants that bloom earliest in spring. Plant in full sun in cool weather; afternoon shade helps extend bloom in zones 7-8. Deadhead to prevent premature seed set. Shear back by one-third when plants go leggy to extend the season.

Saving Pansy Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Pansy by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Pansy?

Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) takes 70 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Pansy grow in?

Pansy can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Pansy need?

Growing Pansy requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.4 to 6.2.