Pansy and viola: when to plant and care
Plant when nights cool in fall in the South; early spring in the North.
| Botanical name | Viola × wittrockiana / V. cornuta |
|---|---|
| Type | annual |
| USDA zones | 4–10 |
| Sun | full sun to part shade |
| Water | moderate |
| Bloom | fall to spring (mild winters); spring (cold winters) |
| Mature size | 0.5–0.75 ft |
| Planting time | Fall in mild-winter areas; early spring elsewhere |
Tolerates light frost and fades in summer heat.
Example dates
| Place | Dates |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX (78701) | spring: Feb 10–Mar 10; fall: Oct 6–Nov 3 |
| Atlanta, GA (30303) | spring: Feb 24–Mar 24; fall: Sep 27–Oct 25 |
| St. Louis, MO (63101) | spring: Mar 4–Apr 1; fall: Sep 23–Oct 21 |
| Chicago, IL (60614) | spring: Mar 13–Apr 10; fall: Sep 24–Oct 22 |
| Denver, CO (80202) | spring: Apr 2–30; fall: Aug 31–Sep 28 |
| Seattle, WA (98101) | spring: Feb 13–Mar 13; fall: Oct 6–Nov 3 |
Every ZIP page has its own dates. Find your ZIP.
State plant programs
- Selected by the Texas Superstar® program (Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension), listed as “Johnny Jump-Ups (viola)”
“Texas Superstar” is a registered trademark of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Use ® on first mention, no logo, not in our titles/domain/brand. Phrase as “selected as a Texas Superstar® plant by Texas A&M AgriLife.” YardThisWeek is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by these programs. See state plant programs.
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Sources
Summarized in our own words from public extension publications.
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