Pansies and Violas: Styling and Care

It's Pansy-monium in the Greenhouse!

Let’s pause for a moment to take a collective sigh of relief... the spring thaw is here! Pansies and violas just arrived in the greenhouse, and they are fresh! With colors ranging from pale yellows to vibrant purples to punchy oranges, these darlings are nothing short of tough and tolerant. Plus, they don’t mind a light frost or snow on their faces!

Shop our full selection in-store, or select pansies and violas on our website!

Pansies and violas are cool-weather annuals that can tolerate temperatures down to 28°F. However, to keep them looking their best, it is a good idea to protect or cover them if temps are getting close to freezing. Frost cloths are made for this exact purpose, but an old bedsheet can work in a pinch. Plastic sheeting is not recommended as it can trap moisture and may even cause plants to overheat.

Plant pansies and violas in containers for now for easy movement, and then in the ground once the soil warms up a bit. Keeping them in a container that is able to be moved around (aka dragged into the garage) helps in the event of temperatures dipping below freezing.

Pansies and violas prefer full sun and like to be watered well. Pinch off spent blooms at the base of the peduncle (main stalk) rather than just the flower head to keep those blooms a-comin'!

Pansies pair nicely with other cold-tolerant annuals, such as ivy or lysimachia. These pairing options usually appreciate temperatures above 32-35°F, so keep that in mind when planting!

Pair Pansies and Violas with:

• English Ivy
• Algerian Ivy – green and variegated
• Lysimachia Goldilocks
• Acorus Grass
• Asparagus Fern
• Herbs such as parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary, and kale
• Forced bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and muscari

Pansies, Violas, and their friends listed above are low-growing, so add height and interest with:

• Fresh or faux pussy willow
• Curly willow
• Faux budding branches and forsythia

Stop in-store to see our full selection of cool-tolerant annuals, as well as premade combo containers!

For a 12-14" Pot, we recommend:

• Tonka Terra Organic Potting Soil (1 bag fills two 12” pots)
• Four Pansy 4-packs
• Four Viola 4-packs
• One 6” pot of forced tulip or daffodil bulbs
• One or two 4" pots of a trailing greenery (ivy, lysimachia, etc.)
• 3-5+ stems of faux sprigs (branches, forsythia, or ferns) or fresh twigs (curly or pussy willow)

Before planting into your container, it can help to lay out your plants how you'd like to display them.

Start with your 6" forced bulbs in the center, and surround it with all its friends! Stick your trailers on the left and right (or front and back!) and fill in the gaps with alternating pansies and violas. Don't worry about roughing up the roots a bit as you transition them to your container! Once everyone is in their new home, make sure they're nice & snug and fill in any gaps with your soil. Stick your sprigs or twigs in like birthday candles in the center of a cake - stick them all the way to the bottom for the most security. Give your container a thorough drink to help settle everybody in!

Deer and rabbits do love pansies, so be prepared with your favorite repellent. We recommend Liquid Fence Deer and Rabbit Repellent. It’s kinda stinky, so let it dry out well in advance of your first dinner party of the season.

Check out our video on planting a spring arrangement here!