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When to Plant Pansy in Maryland

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.

Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a (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 Maryland

Zone 6a ~193 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 10 · First frost: October 20 · 193 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 30 Jan 30 – Feb 13
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Bloom June 5 Jun 5 – Aug 7
Fall Sowing August 25 Aug 25 – Sep 8
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

Growing Tips for Maryland

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pansy in Maryland?

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

What zone is Maryland for planting?

Maryland contains USDA hardiness zones 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: June 2026.