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Viola x wittrockiana is often confused with:
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Viola tricolor Viola tricolor flower.
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Impatiens hawkeri Impatiens hawkeri
Petunia x hybrida Petunia x hybrida
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Viola x wittrockiana has some common insect problems:
Caterpillars Found on Flowers and Foliage
Thrips Found on Flowers and Foliage
Viola x wittrockiana has some other problems:
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage

Viola x wittrockiana

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
vye-OH-lah BY wih-troh-kee-AY-nah
Description

Pansy is a semi-evergreen annual in the violet family (Violaceae) and native to Europe and Asia. It grows 6 to 9 inches in height and 9 to 12 inches in width. This plant is one of the most popular bedding plants for cooler weather and is available in many flower colors, patterns, and sizes with some plants being upright and some having a more trailing habit. 

Pansy prefers full sun to part shade in humus-rich soils that are consistently moist and well-drained. Plant in the fall for winter and early spring blooms. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Deadheading spent flowers will prolong the bloom period. Pansy will eventually succumb to summer heat and should then be removed from the garden.

This plant can bloom for up to 4 to 6 months, making it an excellent plant for bedding, containers and hanging baskets. Use it as a border or in a mass planting along hardscapes or on slopes or banks. It enlivens children’s, edible and winter gardens. Pansy flowers are edible, but be advised that plants purchased from nurseries or garden centers may have been treated with systemic pesticides.

Quick ID Hints

  • 4 to 9 inches tall and appear in low-growing rounded mounds.

  • Flowers orbicular, 1 to 2 inches across in many colors. 

  • Five overlapping petals with a center eyespot or face-like markings.

  • Sepals are reflexed or curved back from the flower. 

  • Elliptic to lanceolate-shaped leaves with crenate or dentate margins.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fungal leaf disease, pansy leaf spot and powdery mildew may affect this plant. Slugs, snails and glasshouse red spider mites are common insects. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Ground Covers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Fence Planter Butterfly Garden at Rob Wallace Park
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#biennial#white flowers#winter interest#apvg#fall interest#herbaceous#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#cool weather plant#spring interest#fantz#apvg-a#partial shade tolerant#HS302#perennial#annual#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#biennial#white flowers#winter interest#apvg#fall interest#herbaceous#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#cool weather plant#spring interest#fantz#apvg-a#partial shade tolerant#HS302#perennial#annual#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viola
    Family:
    Violaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Attract butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Textural
    Edibility:
    Flowers are edible and can be candyied, used for decorating cakes, and eating on crackers with cream cheese.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Sepals are reflexed or curved back from the flower. The flower has 5 overlapping petals with markings. The markings may be an eye spot or have black markings like a face. They are available in many colors and multiple patterns.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaf arrangement is difficult to determine because the leaf nodes are so close together. The leaf shape is elliptic to lanceolate with crenate or dentate margins. The leaf measures 1-1.5-inches long. The leaf tissue extends into the petiole and is described as attenuate.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are green, leafy.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Near Septic
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Recreational Play Area
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Edible Garden
    English Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Slugs