When to Plant Pansy in California

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.

California spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Pansy planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Pansy Planting Calendar for California

▸ Zone 10a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Transplant Outdoors	November 20	Nov 20 – Dec 4
Bloom	January 1	Jan 1 – Mar 12
Fall Sowing	September 24	Sep 24 – Oct 8

▸ Zone 10b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Transplant Outdoors	November 13	Nov 13 – Nov 27
Bloom	December 25	Dec 25 – Mar 5
Fall Sowing	September 24	Sep 24 – Oct 8

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 23	Jan 23 – Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors	April 3	Apr 3 – Apr 17
Bloom	May 29	May 29 – Aug 7
Fall Sowing	August 30	Aug 30 – Sep 13

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 14	Jan 14 – Jan 28
Transplant Outdoors	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 8
Bloom	May 20	May 20 – Jul 29
Fall Sowing	August 23	Aug 23 – Sep 6

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 7	Jan 7 – Jan 21
Transplant Outdoors	March 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25
Bloom	May 6	May 6 – Jul 29
Fall Sowing	August 30	Aug 30 – Sep 13

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 28	Dec 28 – Jan 11
Transplant Outdoors	February 22	Feb 22 – Mar 8
Bloom	April 19	Apr 19 – Jul 26
Fall Sowing	September 9	Sep 9 – Sep 23

▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 17	Dec 17 – Dec 31
Transplant Outdoors	February 4	Feb 4 – Feb 18
Bloom	April 1	Apr 1 – Jul 22
Fall Sowing	September 19	Sep 19 – Oct 3

▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 2	Dec 2 – Dec 16
Transplant Outdoors	January 13	Jan 13 – Jan 27
Bloom	March 3	Mar 3 – Jun 2
Fall Sowing	September 17	Sep 17 – Oct 1

▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	November 16	Nov 16 – Nov 30
Transplant Outdoors	December 21	Dec 21 – Jan 4
Bloom	February 8	Feb 8 – Apr 26
Fall Sowing	September 27	Sep 27 – Oct 11

Growing Tips for California

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.

Pansy in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pansy in California?

Planting dates for Pansy in California depend on your USDA zone. California spans zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is California for planting?

California contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

Blog