Cobb County Cooperative Extension Service

Plant of the Month

Text Box: Pansies & Johnny-Jump-ups
(Viola x wittrockiana &
Viola tricolor)
Horticulture Program Assistant
Taken from "Pansies & Johnny- Jump-ups" by Michele Browne

By Susan Timmers
Horticulture Program Assistant

Family: Violaceae

Hardiness: Hardy to 20 ° in Georgia. May be damaged or killed by prolonged temperatures below 20° and drying winds.

Uses: Cool season annual for color; good in raised beds, window boxes, pots and containers.

Pansies are a delightful flower, creating sweeps of color in massed beds and individual charm with sunny pansy "faces." They have a long growing season (seven months or more) providing color during winter months when other flowers are unavailable. Pansies are the top selling bedding plant for landscapes and are sold by the millions in Georgia. Their smaller-bloomed cousin, the Johnny-jump-up (or Viola), has grown in popularity as a pansy alternative for use in color beds.

Description:	Plant	Pansy: Sturdy, compact, low-growing plant usually 8" in diameter and 8" tall; leaves are oval, dark green, 1 1/2" wide with edges often serrated.Johnny-jump-up: Very similar to pansy, but finer, narrower leaves, smaller bloom, and slightly taller (12-15").
	Bloom:	Pansy: Five petals from 1" to 4" across, some with ruffled edges. Blooms are either solid colored, or marked with darker "blotches."Johnny-jump-up: Five petals, 1" across, usually two dark purple upper petals, yellow/violet combination on lower petals.
	Bloom colors:	Pansy: Almost any color except red. White, yellow, rich gold, purple, rose, maroon, orange, blue, and violet, including many new pastel shades. Often grown in color "ranges" of pastels or brights.Johnny-jump-up: More limited color choices usually involving combination of dark purple, violet, yellow, and white. Some new color combinations showing up on market.
When to Plant:	Early fall & early spring:	The ideal time to plant pansies in the Metro Atlanta area is between September 15th and October 15th. They should not be planted earlier as they will become leggy from too much heat. Later plantings depend upon warm soil temperatures. Avoid planting in December, January, and February. May be planted again in early spring but season will be shorter. Pansies require soil temperatures of between 45° and 65° F. for best growth.
Where to plant:	Sun:	Pansies and Johnny-jump-ups need a minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sun daily. Plants perform best in full sun. Johnny-jump-ups perform better than pansies in shade and cold conditions although are best in full sun.
Planting & Maintenance:	Plant selection:	Choose dark green, compact plants. Roots should be healthy, white and not pot bound. Don’t worry if few blooms are showing at this point. Plants in 3" to 4" containers have a better developed root ball , and will be more vigorous and bloom better than those grown in six-cell packs, especially for later-than-ideal planting.
	Bed preparation:	Plants will not grow well in heavy, compacted clay soil. 3" to 4" of a good quality soil amendment or compost laid on top of bed and then worked in to a depth of 8" to 12" will loosen soil and provide necessary aeration. Composted cow manure (1" to 2") will provide slow-release nutrients needed for long-term growth. A timed-release fertilizer worked into bed at planting will help over the long growing season (see Fertilization). Pansies do not like "wet feet" so drainage may be improved by planting in beds raised 3" to 6" above original grade. This will also help enhance plant display.
	Planting:	Make sure plants are well watered before laying out for planting. If plants have been purchased in advance, be sure to water daily to keep from wilting. Lay plants out to determine spacing. Plants should be spaced 7" to 12" apart. 10" is ideal. Avoid the temptation to overcrowd. Plants will fill in and crowding can promote disease. Dig individual planting hole. Press soil firmly around plant. Water the bed gently, but thoroughly.
	Water:	During establishment (first two to three weeks after planting), keep new plants moist, but not soggy. Thereafter, water one inch per week if there is no rainfall. As temperatures cool, keep pansies slightly on dry side.
	Fertilization:	While soil temps are warm (up to November 30th and after March 15th) use any good, balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at the rate of one pound per 100 sq. feet (10’ by 10’). When soil temperatures cool, pansies must have nitrogen from a nitrate source rather than an ammonia or urea source. Check the fertilizer label. Nitrate-based fertilizers, timed-release formulations at time of planting, or products specifically designed for pansies can take care of this requirement.
	Seasonal care:	To encourage more blooms, remove flowers that are dead or fading. This should be done about every two weeks. Be sure to keep the bed free of weeds that can rob the plants of water and nutrition. When the air temperature drops below 25 degrees, pansy foliage will wilt and turn gray-green. If the soil freezes, the plants can be damaged. Special freeze protection is needed when air temperatures drop below 20 degrees for a considerable length of time. Pine straw applied two to four inches thick over the entire bed (including plants) during extreme weather is an excellent way to trap heat and protect plants.
	End of Season:	Pansies are a cool weather flower. As temperatures warm in late spring, they will stretch out and begin to flop over unattractively. Blooms will become increasingly smaller. Plants should be removed and replaced with summer annuals during early May.

References:

The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk, 1997

Manual of Woody Herbaceous Ornamental Plants, Steven M. Still, 1994

Timely Horticulture Tips: Success with Pansies in the Winter Landscape: A Guide for the Landscape Professional, UGA CAES

Photo credit: (1) Dean Wm. Taylor, (2) Dianne Fristrom

Revised by: Susan Timmers former program assistant