Viola x wittrockiana

Viola x wittrockiana

 

Common name: pansy

Family: Violaceae

Leaf: ovate- elliptic medium to dark green leaves (up to 1.5" long)

Flowers: wide variety of colours, often with contrasting blotching or central whiskering/markings.

Habit: herbaceuous perennial or annual for cool weather; Form: low, clumping

Height: 0.5'-0.75'; Spread: 0.75'-1'

Culture: Winter hardy in USDA zones 6-10. Pansies are short-lived evergreen perennials that are grown as cool weather annuals or biennials. Grow as biennials by planting in fall, mulching in winter (e.g., hay or evergreen boughs) and then enjoying the spring bloom until the plants inevitably succumb to summer heat, at which point they should be removed from the garden. Plants do not need mulching in mild winters, but may not always survive extremely harsh winters. Small but established plants generally overwinter better than large ones. A main advantage to planting pansies in fall is that they will bloom earlier (late winter to early spring) than spring transplants. Pansies may of course be easily grown as annuals by starting seed indoors in spring 12-14 weeks before last frost date. Unless a particularly unusual variety is desired, however, many gardeners find in easier to purchase plants from nurseries in cell/six packs in spring. Set out plants in early spring. Pansies are best grown in humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best with part afternoon shade. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Cut back leggy plants to revitalize. Pansies are the top-selling winter bedding plant in certain areas where they are planted in fall for bloom throughout the winter and early spring.

Uses: Bedding, edging, window boxes and containers.

Origin: garden origin