Anyone who has thought that horned violets and pansies are the same plants is wrong. These two do look very similar. But while there are many similarities, there are also many differences…
Horned violets and pansies look very similar and yet they are not the same
Similarities between the two plants
Horned violets and pansies have the following things in common, which can be seen from the outside:
- bushy, dense growth
- fivefold flowers (5 petals, 5 sepals, 5 stamens)
- Petals overlap at the edge
- an inferior ovary
- green, broadly oval leaves
- numerous varieties in different colors
Hard to see from the outside
Furthermore, horned violets and pansies combine the following characteristics:
- genus of violets
- mostly two-year lifespan
- non-toxic to humans and animals
- edible
- suitable for pot and outdoor cultivation
- prefer a sunny to semi-shady location
- love humus-rich, fresh to moist, nutrient-rich soil
- easy-care
Different origin
Horned violets originally come from northern Spain and the Pyrenees. They can still be found wild there today. Pansies, on the other hand, are the result of numerous crossings of a total of 12 types of violets from Central Europe.
Different flowering (times)
But there are also a lot of differences between these two growths. Let's start with the flowers. Basically, horned violets form a higher number of flowers. However, these are smaller than the flowers of pansies. Pansies have 4 upper petals and one lower petal. Horned violets have 3 upper and two lower petals.
Horned violets bloom longer
There is also a small difference in flowering time. Horned violets usually bloom from April. In mild climates, they can bloom as early as winter or all winter long. Its flowers can be present until August. If you cut them back, you will get a second bloom in the fall.
On the other hand, the flowers of the pansy can usually only be seen from April to June/July. They do not survive low temperatures around 0 °C. In addition, they are considered to be more sensitive to rain than horn violet flowers.
tips and tricks
In contrast to pansies, horned violets have the advantage that they like to sow themselves and become natural. In addition, they usually survive the winter without appropriate protection, whereas pansies should rather be covered.