Pansies are cool-season favorites, with cheerful blooms that seem to defy the stark white of winter. If you’re in North Carolina you might be wondering when to plant pansies in NC.
When To Plant Pansies in NC?
The best time to plant pansies in NC is during the fall season. These plants do not like the heat and might not do too well if you start them mid-summer.
When to plant pansies in NC? You can start anywhere between late September to early October so you can get maximum blooms.
When the weather starts slowly coming down and the first frost is still months away, you should prepare your pansies so you can enjoy its flowers throughout the year.
Pansies like relatively warm soil and will need some time to stretch out their roots before winter’s first freeze. It’s worth noting that pansies can grow quite well in containers as long as they get the proper care.
The plant likes well-drained soil with plenty of humus and organic material. Pansies prefer cool temperatures and partial sun, or a spot that gets morning light and shade in the afternoons. You can use standard potting soil if you intend to plant your pansies and grow them in containers.
If you’re planting pansies outside then it’s best to observe an 8 to 10-inch spacing between them. For indoor pansies, you’ll want an east-facing window so it gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
How to Care for Pansies in NC
The one cardinal rule for growing pansies is to not let the soil dry out completely. These plants prefer a constantly moist medium, and they might fail to reach their full potential or produce flowers if this particular condition isn’t met.
Other than regular watering, you can feed your pansies a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer that has equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to help them grow. Don’t give your plants too much nitrogen or else they will focus on producing foliage instead of flowers.
Deadheading seems to work well with pansies. As soon as you see the flowers declining it’s best to remove them with a pair of sterilized scissors or garden shears. Continue doing this as long as you want colorful blooms to appear.
4 Pansy Varieties that Grow Well in North Carolina
Here are some heat tolerant pansies that will grow well in NC.
Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl
Cool Wave pansies are hardy in zones 5 through 10 and usually grown as annuals. The plant thrives where there’s partial sun, e.g., morning sunlight and afternoon shade and moist, well-draining soil.
‘Blueberry Swirl’ features purple-bordered blooms with egg-yellow centers. This variety has a trailing habit that’s perfect in a hanging basket. It’s also very cold tolerant and can withstand freezing temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees F.
Delta Premium Marina
One of the few pansy varieties that produce a cool blue flower, Delta Premium Marina blooms come in three subtle shades, namely pale and dark blue and a yellow spot in the middle. The plant can grow in North Carolina in zones 5 to 9 without any problems.
‘Delta Premium Marina’ can reach up to 6 inches max and have a sturdy stem characteristic, which makes it neater compared to other pansy varieties. Don’t forget to constantly give it a thorough soaking to get a shower of bright blue color in late winter and early spring.
Cool Wave White
If a hanging basket of pansies in full bloom sounds good to you, then you shouldn’t pass up on the Cool Wave White Pansy. Pure, snow-white flowers with yellow dots in the middle are a sight to behold, especially if you put them in highly visible places.
Cool Wave White is hardy in zones 5 through 9 and only requires a moist and fertile medium to grow well. The stems have a trailing habit and can extend up to 30 inches.
Matrix Solar Flare
Matrix Solar Flare sports hot bloom colors of flaming red, orange and black, and serves as an interesting contrast come fall or winter season. It’s hardy in zones 6 through 10 and considered an annual.
This pansy variety thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. The plant can grow up to a maximum height of 8 inches with the right soil and care.
Related Article: What to Do With Pansies in The Summer?