Pansies are a multiform collective species of the genus violets. The large-flowered garden pansies are usually biennial, while the horned violets are perennial. Many viola species reproduce by self-seeding or stolons.
Garden pansies are usually annual or biennial
Wild pansies, field pansies, yellow violets and other viola species grow wild in fields and meadows in temperate Europe and Asia, including in the mountains. In nature, they occur in three colors:
- blue violet,
- yellow or
- White.
Several viola species were used to breed garden pansies with velvety, single- or multicolored, also spotted, striped, mottled or bordered flowers.
Annual and biennial Viola species
The universally popular and widespread garden pansies are annual or biennial plants. They are sown in summer and the first flowers come in autumn of the same year. In severe winters with permanent frost, the plants can die. In mild winters they bloom through to the next summer. After that they go in. In a favorable location, the garden pansies can grow wild in the garden. They get along well with the semi-shady location, are otherwise quite frugal in terms of care and robust in their habit. Sowing can be done outdoors in summer or in autumn.
Perennial viola species
These include above all the horned violets, which are also called mini pansies. They are perennial, slightly fragrant perennials with a long flowering period. The flowers only curl up in severe frost, and open again when there is a thaw, often throughout the winter. Horned violets come in all colors, including those with almost pure black flowers, e.g. B. Molly Sanderson.
Horned violets like stony ground because they grow naturally on rocky slopes. They should also be cut back and divided after flowering. This care measure ensures the longevity of the plant. Horned violets prefer a location in full sun, but - like all other pansies - are easy to care for.
tips and tricks
Garden pansies and horned violets differ not only in the size of their flowers. If you look closely at the flower, you will see that out of five petals, pansies have four upwards and one downwards, while horned violets have three upwards and two downwards.