Gro 'n Sell
More Pansies
These are some of our favorite colors from several pansy strains on the market today. Some are smaller viola types while others are full sized.
Sweet Pea Mix
The first 100% double-flowering pansy is suitable for cut flowers, with a vigorous upright habit. A mix of four desirable colors rose, violet, white, and salmon.
Can Can Mix
With large, heavily ruffled petals that are enhanced by cool temperatures, Can Can has the most brazenly sumptuous flowers. Available as a mixture of unique, rich colors, the growth habit is well-branched and strong making it a great cut flower candidate.
Ballerina Mix
The refined, slightly smaller-flowering cousin of Can Can. Gorgeously frilled and ruffled flowers float above a well-branched multi-floral habit in a delightful array of colors. Very free flowering with medium-sized flowers, the ruffled effect of Ballerina is enhanced by the cooler temperatures of autumn and spring.
Chianti Shades Mix
These semi-ruffled, medium-sized pansies carry rich shades of terracotta, salmon, and rose, splashed with red wine, making this variety unique in its kind. The plants are ideal for pots, bedding and cut flowers.
Aurora Shades Mix
Flowers in yellow shades with a dainty blue picotee - delicately painted flowers on sturdy plants. The striking contrast between the blue picotee and yellow adds to the intrigue and beauty of this variety.
Moulin Rouge
A beautiful large-flowered pansy with frilled and ruffled petals. With extra long flower stems, this variety makes a delightful cut flower, particularly in the cooler months. Many unique color combos in this mix make it versatile for arrangements and bouquets.
Atlas Black
True black flowers are challenging to find in the flower world and these Atlas Black pansies do not disappoint. Velvety black flowers pair well with other colors and make for a dramatic statement in bouquets and arrangements.
Frizzle Sizzle
Lemonberry and Raspberry are two unique color selections rarely seen in other pansy mixes. Ruffled flowers in raspberry-pink and soft yellow with berry-purple edges are 2 inches across and add a whimsy to floral creations. Sub Aurora Shades for Frizzle Sizzle yellow-blue swirl.
Imperial Antique Shades
Medium to large-sized blooms in shades of cream, peach, white, gold, burgundy and rose. Mildly fragrant, smooth-petaled blooms on healthy and vigorous plants.
Brush Strokes
Vigorous, floriferous plants produce masses of viola-sized striped and speckled flowers, no two of which look identical. Beautiful antique colors appear as if splashed with paint - nothing else quite like it!
About Tray Sizes
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivelent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Viola, Pansy |
| Genus | Viola |
| Species | V. x Wittrockiana |
| Family | Violaceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy annual, short-lived perennial in warmer zones |
| Format | Plugs |
| Plug Care | Either harden off and plant out plugs soon after receiving them, or bump them up into larger cell trays to avoid plugs becoming rootbound. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary. |
| Temperature Range | Optimal temperature range for active growth is 45-65F. Pansies and violas can tolerate temperatures down to 25F but should be protected if the temperature goes that low, or lower, for extended periods of time. Pansies and violas do not tolerate intense heat and production will slow down or stop as temperatures approach or exceed 75F. |
| Spacing | To promote long stems, most growers pack their plugs in quite close together with 3-5" spacing being common. |
| Soil Preference | Loose, rich, slightly acidic soil is best, but pansies and violas are not very fussy. Fertilize with a well balanced calcium nitrate based fertilizer for best results. |
| Day Length | Typically facultative long-day but variable, dependent on cultivar. Pansies and violas will bloom under short days however long days promote more flowers and plants grown under long days will typically bloom sooner. Plant in full sun for the happiest plants - some growers recommend partial shade to aid with stem length (shade makes stems stretch, however the stems may be flimsy or weak). |
| Pinching | Not necessary. |
| When to Plant | Pansies and Violas are cold hardy and can be planted in the fall under a tunnel in many zones. Overwintered plants will be larger and more robust come spring when the growth will explode with the warming temperatures. If planting without cover in zone 6 or colder, plant in early spring about a month before the last frost date. They can handle frost and dips into freezing temperatures while young. |
| Harvesting | The first month or more of the flowering period will likely be on short plants with small stems, not worth cutting. Do not worry, the plants just need time to put on size and stem length. It's a good idea to deadhead if you have the time. It's labor intensive but the plants will be more productive if not wasting energy on seed production. Start harvesting stems when they are approximately 8-10 inches in lenth - some growers report 12-14 inch stems late spring and into summer. You are cutting a branch from the plant that contains flowers and buds, not individual flower stems which rarely exceed an inch. Cut deep, close to the ground for the longest possible stem. |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut stems should immediately be placed into cool water. Pansies and violas have up to a two week lifespan even without the use of a floral preservative. You can safely store them in a cooler until needed, and hydration does not seem to be an issue. Buds will continue to slowly open over time in the vase. |
| Diseases / Insects | Pansies and Violas tend to be disease resistant. They can be susceptible to slugs and aphids, but not many insect pests are active in the cooler conditions that pansies and violas thrive in. |
| Bailey's Notes | Growing under cover may improve stem length as it does for most crops due to lack of wind and inclement weather exposure. It would also give northern and cold climate growers the chance to plant earlier in the season and have an extended bloom time. |
| Resources |