European Field Pansy Viola arvensis

Field Pansies are annual to perennial flowers (depending on winter temperatures) in the Violaceae family.  Although their origin is Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, they have become introduced and naturalized in the United States.  They have showy two-toned fragrant flowers that appear from April to June.  If blooming slows with warm summer weather prune back to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

In their natural habitat, they can be found growing in dry open grounds along roadsides, beaches, old fields, meadows and bluffs.  They prefer humusy, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. 

If they are perennial in your area, plant them in naturalized areas or containers to keep them from spreading too much in a perennial garden.  If they are annuals use them in bedding, window boxes, and containers. In the wild, they can be found growing in fields, wastelands, meadows, and rocky outcrops in dry, sandy soil.

This self-seeding wildflower is easy to grow.  A common name, Johnny Jump-Up, comes from its trait of spontaneously jumping out of the ground.  Typically, where you don't expect it.

A relative of the pansy, field pansies are easily distinguished.  They are smaller than the pansy, less than 1" in diameter.  The plant size is also smaller, however, they make up for their small size by producing more blooms than the pansy.

Young leaves develop from a basal rosette.  They are rounded to oval with a shallowly toothed margin.  When leaves mature they are long and narrow with round-toothed margins.  Hairy veins appear on the underside of the leaf. The roots have a wintergreen scent when crushed.  

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to fungal leaf diseases. Watch for aphids, slugs and snails.  This plant is frequently damaged by deer. It may hybridize with other viola species in your garden. Read about the native viola listed to the left.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.