Pansies are one of the spring's charmers. Their sunny little "faces" and wide variety of colors elects them as one of the most popular bedding and container flowers. But are pansies annuals or perennials? Can you grow them year round or are they short-term visitors to your garden? The question depends upon your zone or region. The pansy lifespan may be a fleeting few months or a spring to spring companion. Some further pansy plant info should sort out the question, no matter where you plan to grow.
Are Pansies Annuals or Perennials?
How long do pansies live? Pansies are actually quite hardy, but they bloom in cooler weather and hot temperatures can reduce flowering and make them leggy and unsightly. In their natural state, plants start out as biennials. By the time you purchase them blooming, they are in their second year. Most commercially sold plants are hybrids and do not have cold hardiness or longevity. That being said, you can get pansies to survive into future years in temperate climates.
Will My Pansies Come Back?
The short, quick answer is, yes. Because they have little freeze tolerance, most will die in sustained winters. In areas with moderate temperatures, they may come again in spring, especially if they were mulched to protect the roots. In the Pacific Northwest, pansies will often come back the next year or their prolific seedlings will provide year after year of color. Gardeners in the Midwest and South should assume their plants are annuals. So pansies are perennials but only in areas with short freezes, cool summers and moderate temperatures. The rest of us should treat them as welcome but short lived annuals. Most pansy varieties are suitable for United States Department of Agriculture zone 7 to 10. Hotter regions will enjoy them for only short periods and colder regions will winter kill the plants. There are some varieties that can survive to zone 4, but only a very few and with protection. Even in regions where the plants can be used as perennials, they are short lived. The average pansy lifespan is only a couple of years. The good news is that a wide variety of the plants are offered as easy to grow seeds and, in some areas, they will naturally reseed themselves. That means the flowers may reappear the next year but just as second generation volunteers.
Hardy Pansy Plant Info
For the best chance of successful perennial plants, select those with extra hardiness bred into them. There are several with both heat and cold tolerance, although actual temperatures are not listed. These include:
- Maxim
- Universal
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Rococo
- Springtime
- Majestic Giant
- Lyric
-
Monkey Orchid Care: How To Grow This Fascinating SpeciesThe monkey orchid bears a remarkable resemblance to its namesake and, with a little know-how, can be successfully grown as a houseplant.
-
How To Grow Garden To Table: A Guide For Home CooksWhat could be better than a meal that comes directly from garden to table? Show off your gardening and culinary skills with the very freshest food.
-
10 Best Pansy Varieties - Growing Beautiful PansiesWhile traditional pansies are always a favorite, there are many newer hybrids. Read on for our top 10 pansy varieties.
-
Pansy Seed Sowing: Learn How To Plant Pansy SeedsGardeners looking to save money often consider starting their own pansy transplants from seed. Though somewhat time consuming, the process is relatively easy, even for inexperienced growers. Learn about the care of seed grown pansies in this article.
-
Pansy Winter Care: Tips For Growing Pansies In WinterThey?re the quintessential cool weather flower, so can you grow pansies in winter? The answer is that it depends on where you live. Gardens in zones 7-9 may get some cold winter weather, but these little flowers are hardy and can survive cold spells. Lean more here.
-
Pansy Bloom Time: When Is Pansy Flowering SeasonPansies still liven up the flower garden all summer long, but that's not all. These days, with new types of pansies being developed, pansy bloom time can last the whole year through. If you want more information about the pansy flowering season, click this article.
-
Pansy Plant Types: Selecting Different Kinds Of Pansy FlowersPansies have been around for centuries, but so many new and fabulous pansy varieties have been developed that they have taken on a whole new aspect in the flower garden. If you want more info on remarkable kinds of pansy flowers, then this article will help.
-
Pansy Pest Problems – Controlling Bugs That Eat PansiesPansies are very useful flowers. But while these plants are very popular with gardeners, they're just as popular with insects and other pests. Click the following article to learn more about the most common pansy plant pests and how to combat bugs that eat pansies.
-
No Flowers On Pansy Plants: Help, My Pansies Aren’t BloomingEasy to grow, pansies are a terrific option for the novice gardener. Even so, gardeners may find that their pansies aren?t blooming. What causes no flowers on pansy plants? Click here to find out about pansies that won?t bloom and what to do when pansies are not flowering.
-
Pansy Leaves Changing Color – Fixes For Pansies With Yellow LeavesVarious diseases may be responsible when pansy leaves are yellowing, but pests or improper fertilization can also cause discolored pansy leaves. Click this article to learn about a few of the most common culprits.
