When winter begins, gardeners everywhere plant pansies. These early annuals are loved for being able to handle cold weather and for having big, brightly colored flowers with a distinctive blotch. People also plant pansies in the fall, which adds late-season color to the garden and can last through the winter and bloom again in early spring.
How much cold these garden favorites will survive depends on your specific climate and growing conditions.
Find out how cold is too cold, how to keep your pansies safe from snow and freezing temperatures, and how to bring them back to life when the winter weather makes them look weak.
Some pansy varieties are known as Ice or Winter pansies and are set out in autumn. Winter pansies bloom throughout autumn, winter, and spring in warmer climates and in early spring in colder climates.
With their cheery little faces, pansies are a beloved cool weather flower. Their bright petals in purple, yellow white and other colors enliven gardens and containers during winter and early spring when little else blooms. But just how much cold can these hardy plants endure before freezing to death? Read on to learn the freeze tolerance thresholds for pansies.
The Basics of Pansy Cold Hardiness
Pansies belong to the Viola genus which encompasses small flowering plants native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia This means pansies evolved tolerances for surviving freezing winters in their natural habitat Key facts about their cold hardiness include
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Pansies thrive best in cool conditions from 40°F to 60°F. Temperatures above 80°F can cause flowering to cease.
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Most pansies tolerate freezing temperatures down to 20°F to 25°F when established. Brief drops below this point are OK.
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Hardy pansy varieties can withstand even lower temperatures near 0°F when dormant.
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Young seedlings, new transplants and actively growing pansies are less cold tolerant.
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Freezing weather causes pansy leaves to shrivel and turn grayish-green but plants often revive when it warms.
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Extended deep freezes below 10°F may kill pansies, especially without snow cover to insulate.
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Pansies in pots are more prone to root damage from hard freezes.
With proper site selection and care, pansies can brighten gardens even in frigid climates during winter.
Choosing Cold-Hardy Pansy Varieties
Some pansy varieties have been bred to withstand even lower temperatures. Look for these extra-tough cultivars:
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Nordic Series – Hardy to 0°F, some to -20°F.
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Alliance Series – Withstands freezing to -10°F.
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Babyface Series – Tolerates temperatures down to -15°F.
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Majestic Giant II Series – Hardy to -10°F.
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Delta Premium – Survives freezing down to -20°F.
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Matrix Series – Specifically bred for early spring planting, resists -30°F.
Selecting cold-tolerant pansy varieties helps push their limits. Check tags for zone ratings to compare.
Ideal Winter Conditions for Pansies
To help pansies make it through frigid conditions, provide:
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Sheltered location protected from sweeping winds and with southern exposure to maximize winter sun.
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Raised beds that promote drainage away from roots in heavy soils.
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Wood chips or straw mulch to insulate soil from deep freezes. Avoid piling mulch on plant crowns.
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Late fall fertilizing to strengthen plants before dormancy sets in.
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Good air circulation around plants to minimize foliage disease in damp weather.
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Delay planting in fall until night temperatures consistently stay above 28°F.
Meeting pansies’ basic needs gives them the best advantage when challenging cold arrives.
Protecting Pansies in Winter
When extremely icy weather threatens, these tactics help safeguard pansies:
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Cover beds with insulating fabric row cover or low cloches, venting on sunny days.
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Add extra mulch, leaving plants’ top growth uncovered.
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For potted pansies, move containers together and wrap with protective materials.
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Wrap foliage with breathable material to shield from windburn.
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Cover beds with evergreen branches as insulation.
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Water thoroughly before hard freezes to keep roots hydrated.
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Delay heavy pruning until new growth emerges in spring.
Temporary protective measures reduce risk of damage when the mercury plummets.
Signs of Cold Injury to Pansies
Watch for these signals that freezing temps have taken a toll on pansies:
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Shriveled, discolored leaves that turn limp and grayish-green.
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Slow emergence of new growth in spring.
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Loss of flowering after cold periods.
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Decline in plant vigor and reduced spread.
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Wilting even in moist soil.
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Stem damage like splitting.
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Crown collapse indicating loss of roots from frozen soil.
While concerning, cold damage does not always mean death. Resilient pansies often recover when warmth returns. Hold off removing winter-ravaged plants until new growth appears in spring. The crown may still be intact underground and capable of regenerating leaves. Applying balanced fertilizer in early spring aids revival.
But repeated deep freezes below 10°F increase risk of mortality. Preventing cold injury is a better bet than attempting to rescue frozen pansies.
Avoiding Common Freeze Problems
Here are missteps that make pansies more prone to winterkill:
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Failing to select cold-hardy varieties.
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Planting too late in fall after cold arrives.
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Exposing plants to intense winds and poor air circulation.
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Allowing soil to stay wet in winter, causing root rot.
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Skipping fall mulching to insulate soil.
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Not providing temporary covers during extreme lows.
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Fertilizing heavily right before winter.
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Trimming plants too aggressively in fall.
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Siting beds in low spots with poor drainage.
Give pansies every advantage to withstand challenging wintry conditions.
Enjoying Pansies Despite Freezes
With thoughtful care and preparation, gardeners in many cold winter regions can grow pansies, often from fall through spring. Focus efforts on selecting hardy varieties suited to your zone, providing ideal growing conditions, and insulating plants when bitter weather threatens. Though freezes cause setbacks, resilient pansies rebound to deliver their cheerful flowers again. With a little diligence, pansies can give gardens a boost amid winter’s dreariness.
What Temperature Will Kill Pansies?
Both soil and air temperature affect pansy health. Other growing conditions play a role in determining how much cold they can survive. For plants, air temperatures below 25°F for just a few hours can put them to sleep, and temperatures below 20°F can kill them stem and leaves.
Frozen soil and drying winter winds are factors contributing to plant loss. If you keep pansies in warm sunlight and give their roots some protection, they are more likely to be able to handle short periods of cold weather.
Will Pansies Come Back After a Freeze?
If you grow pansies in the south, they are more likely to survive the occasional freeze and even come back after being covered in snow. Cold air is less likely to cause dieback than extended periods of frozen ground. Winter pansies can sometimes revive even when frozen solid.
Frozen soil affects the roots ability to take up water and nutrients. When starved too long plants eventually die. Pansies can handle these harsh conditions better than most annuals, and once the weather gets a little warmer and the plants get enough sun, they start to grow new buds.
Whether planted in autumn or in early spring, pansies are grown as annuals and replanted every year. When the days get cooler and the nights get cooler, some types that were planted in the spring bloom again in the fall. In places where the ground doesn’t freeze, pansies planted in the fall often live until early summer of the next year, when the heat kills them.
Sometimes a pansy will grow in a flower bed or pot, even if it was planted a year or two ago. These volunteers lack vigor and are usually short-lived.
Can winter pansies survive frost?
FAQ
What temperature is too cold for pansies?
Will pansies survive winter in pots?
When should you bring pansies inside?
Can pansies survive winter?
Pansies are winter hardy plants that survive well in extreme cold and frost. They cannot survive well when temperatures drop below 25°F, and they wilt and turn greyish. Pansies grow best when temperatures remain between 45-65°F. A change in soil temperature and air temperature can cause poor survival of pansies in the cold.
What is the coldest temperature a pansy can survive?
To summarise: The coldest temperature that pansies can survive is 25 degrees Fahrenheit or -3 degrees Celcius. Pansies then are pretty hardy, surviving in cold conditions for significant periods. These flowers will perform best in temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees F, making them ideal fall, winter, and early spring flowers.
What temperature do pansies grow at?
Let’s find out. Pansies grow best at a temperature range of 45-65°F, but they can withstand temperatures as low as -10°F. The foliage will survive at low temperatures, but the flowers will start to wilt when the temperature drops below 25°F. It is best to protect the plant when the temperature drops below 20°F.
Are pansies cold hardy?
Pansies are a resilient flower that can tolerate light frost. They are cold hardy and can be planted in late winter and early spring, when temperatures are still cool. With the proper care, pansies can survive and even thrive in colder temperatures.