Pansies and violas are a great addition to any fall or winter flowerbed. They are cold weather tolerant and they are winter flowering, which makes them a rarity in the flower world. While you may think all of the smaller flowered plants are pansies, these two flowers are different, and you’ll want to make sure that you plant the right flower for your yard or maybe even your commercial complex.
Violas and pansies are two of the most popular cool weather annual flowers. They are available in a wide range of cheerful colors and add a punch of color to gardens, containers and landscapes when many other flowers have faded.
Though they look similar, violas and pansies are not exactly the same. They are closely related, but have a few key differences when it comes to plant size, growing habits, bloom size and more. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between violas and pansies.
The Relationship Between Violas and Pansies
Violas and pansies are both members of the Viola family. The original violas were imported from Europe to North America in the 1800s. Over time hybridizers crossed various viola species together to create larger-flowered pansies. So in technical terms
- All pansies are a type of viola
- But not all violas are pansies
So violas were the original plants, and pansies were later developed from violas through selective breeding and hybridization. While pansies and violas share a close relationship they have diverged over the years into two distinct groups with somewhat different characteristics.
Key Differences Between Violas and Pansies
Though pansies were originally derived from violas the two plants have distinguishing features
Plant Size
- Violas are smaller, reaching 4-10 inches tall and wide
- Pansies are larger, reaching 6-12 inches tall and wide
So in general, violas have a more compact, low growing habit compared to taller pansies.
Bloom Size
- Violas have smaller blooms, about the size of a nickel (1-1.5 inches wide)
- Pansies have larger blooms, around 2-4 inches wide
Pansies were specifically bred to have bigger, showier flowers than their viola ancestors.
Bloom Abundance
- Violas produce many blooms per plant
- Pansies have fewer, but larger blooms
Violas are very floriferous, and each plant produces many small blooms. Pansies have fewer blooms overall, but each individual flower is larger.
Heat Tolerance
- Violas are more heat tolerant
- Pansies prefer cooler weather
Violas can take more heat without fading or going dormant. Pansies will wilt and stop flowering if temperatures get too hot, especially in the afternoon.
Winter Hardiness
- Violas are slightly more cold hardy
- Pansies prefer cool, not freezing temps
Violas can bounce back after light frosts. But pansies will go dormant or die if exposed to hard, repeated freezes.
Bloom Direction
This is a more subtle difference you may notice when looking closely at an individual bloom:
- Pansies have 4 petals pointing up, 1 pointing down
- Violas have 2 petals pointing up, 3 pointing down
So the orientation of the 5 petals can help distinguish between pansy and viola blooms.
Similarities Between Pansies and Violas
Though there are some differences, pansies and violas do share many things in common:
- Wide range of colors including solids, bi-colors, and mixes
- Both edible and can be used in recipes
- Texture and growth habit – both have lush green foliage and mounding, compact form
- Lifecycle – cool weather annuals in most climates
- Uses in gardens – beds, borders, containers
- Ideal conditions – both thrive in cool, sunny spots
- General maintenance needs – removing spent blooms encourages more flowering
So when it comes to general care, preferred conditions, and usefulness in the garden, pansies and violas are quite similar. The main differences lie in bloom size and abundance and the plant’s size and heat tolerance.
Which is Better – Pansies or Violas?
Whether pansies or violas are “better” depends on your specific needs:
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Pansies are best for making a big visual impact with their large, showy blooms. They add a punch of color where needed.
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Violas are ideal for mass plantings and edging. Each plant produces many small blooms that collectively make a color impact. Their heat and cold tolerance adds versatility.
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Planting both together combines the benefits – larger pansy blooms for focal impact, violas for mass color.
So weigh your individual needs – if you want a bold statement, go with pansies. For prolific color over a long season, violas are the better choice. Or combine both types together for the maximum floral display!
Tips for Growing Pansies and Violas
Here are a few tips to get the most out of your pansies and violas:
- Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
- Prepare soil by mixing in compost or other organic matter
- Water when soil is partly dry to the touch
- Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced flower fertilizer
- Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowering
- Provide afternoon shade in hot summer climates
- Mulch around plants to keep roots cool
- Enjoy blooms for 4-6 months in cool weather
The Takeaway
While pansies and violas share a close relationship and similar characteristics, they have diverged into two distinct types of plants. Key differences include bloom size and abundance, plant size, and heat/cold tolerance. In general, pansies offer larger, showier blooms while violas produce more flowers per plant. Both add wonderful cool weather color to the garden. So consider your specific needs and climate when deciding between these two cheerful flowers.
How Long Do Pansies Bloom? How Long Do Pansies and Violas Last?
Pansies or violas can begin to bloom in early spring, depending on where you live or where your business is located. If you’re wondering when to plant pansies, you will want to wait to plant pansies and violas until you are fairly sure you won’t have days of freezing night temperatures. Pansies and violas are cold tolerant, but days below freezing can kill pansies without protection. Pansies and violas do enjoy time in the sun, but they do not have to have full sun all day. This is especially true as the weather begins to heat up.
Pansies will continue to bloom as long as it does not get too hot. You will be able to keep pansies and violas blooming if you deadhead the plants. If you have never deadheaded plants before, you need to know how to deadhead pansies and violas.
Deadheading pansies and deadheading violas works the same way. You can clip off the faded blooms with a small pair of scissors, or you can pinch off the blooms. Be sure that you deadhead the plants at the base of the bloom, above a leaf cluster, to encourage the plants to continue to bloom.
While pansies and violas love the cold weather, they are not fond of heat. In fact, there are varieties of pansies, such as the ice pansy, that can survive a snowfall.
Both pansies and violas will stop blooming and die off the warmer it gets. If you plant violas or pansies in the front of your business, and they get time in the sun as well as the shade, there’s a chance you can coax them to continue to bloom into the summer, or if you’re lucky, the fall. However, once it gets too hot, the flowers will stop blooming, and will reappear in the fall.
What are Violas Cold Tolerance?
Violas are surprisingly hardy plants, and they can tolerate temperatures as low as 0°F with little to no damage. They naturally flower during the spring and summer months, but if planted in an area with cooler temperatures during this time period, they will often continue flowering until the winter months when temperatures begin dropping below freezing.
Despite their cold-tolerance, Violas should be exposed to full-sunlight for as many hours of the day as possible for best results. If the plant is completely shaded you’ll have difficulty getting them to flower – even though it won’t necessarily harm the plant itself.
Pansies vs. Violas
FAQ
What is the difference between a pansy and a viola?
How to easily tell the difference between the two if you are still scratching your head, Violas have two petals up and three petals down. Pansies have four petals up and one petal down.
Which last longer pansies or violas?
Most violas have a long flowering period in spring and summer – and the winter-flowering pansies will provide excellent garden colour throughout the colder months of the year and well into late spring.
Are violas perennials or annuals?
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Viola Genus:The term “viola” actually refers to the entire Viola genus, which includes over 500 different species, including annuals, perennials, and even subshrubs.
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Short-Lived Perennials:Many violas are considered short-lived perennials, meaning they can live for a few years, but often die back after a couple of years.
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Annuals:In many regions, violas are grown as annuals, meaning they are planted and bloom for one season and then die.
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Self-Seeding:Many violas self-seed, meaning they naturally spread by dropping seeds, which can lead to new plants the following year.
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Climate:The lifespan of violas can depend on the climate, with some varieties thriving as perennials in cooler climates and others being treated as annuals in warmer climates.
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Examples of Viola Species:
- Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana): These are a popular type of viola, often grown as annuals or short-lived perennials.
- Johnny-Jump-Ups (Viola tricolor): These are small-flowered violas that are often grown as annuals or short-lived perennials.
- Violets (Viola sororia and others): These are true violets, which are typically perennial and thrive in shady or woodland garden settings.
- Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana): These are a popular type of viola, often grown as annuals or short-lived perennials.
Do violas like sun or shade?
Light: Violas are tolerant of most conditions, yet will thrive in full sun or part shade especially during the spring, yet will easily fade in full sun during …
Are pansies better than violas?
Both prefer full sun when the weather cools and the sun dips lower in the sky. Pansies will definitely give your more color as the flowers stand taller, boast bigger blooms, come in more color choices, and are larger than violas. However, I have found that violas, despite their small size, are tougher.
Are Pansy flowers the same?
Some even think they are the same flower. It’s understandable why some people would think the two flowers are the same because pansy plants are scientifically known as Viola wittrockiana. They are a species of the viola family, but not the same as the plants commonly labeled violas at flower nurseries.
What is the difference between a pansy and a violet?
So let’s go straight to the point and focus on their perceived physical differences – Pansies have distinctive blotching that resembles a face. They also have more compact growth than violets – Pansies are 6 to 12 inches tall as opposed to Violas’ 3-8 inches and have larger leaves. Pansy and violet petals also differ somehow.
Why are pansies called Pansies?
It looks very likely that Pansies were the result of hybridizing between two or more wild Violas, with Viola wittrockiana, now synonymous with Pansies, Viola tricolor and Viola lutea being the most likely varieties involved. The painstaking efforts put by the breeders of that era paid off and the result was the Pansy.
How do you tell a viola from a pansy?
The best way to tell the two flowers apart is by noticing the orientation of the petals. Both have five, but pansies have four petals pointing up and one petal pointing down, whereas violas have two petals pointing up and three pointing down. Generally, violas are smaller in overall size than taller growing pansies. And the winner is…?