Viola x wittrockiana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vye-OH-lah BY wih-troh-kee-AY-nah
- Description
-
Pansies, which are one of the most popular bedding plants for cooler weather, are available in many flower colors, patterns, and sizes with some plants being upright and some with a more trailing habit. They can bloom for up to 4 to 6 months, making them an excellent plant for bedding and containers. Plant in the fall as a biennial for late winter and early spring blooms. They prefer full sun to part shade in humus soils that are consistently moist and well-drained.
Although they have a delicate appearance, they are tough little plants that can tolerate frost. Plant in the fall to enjoy blooms until the temperatures drop and frost occurs, at which time they will stop blooming. However, they will be one of the first to bloom as temperatures warm up in the spring. Smaller plants will survive the winter better than larger plants. They will also bloom earlier than others that are transplanted in the spring. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the bloom period.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Fall, Winter, and Spring Foliage: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Quick ID
- Four to nine inches tall and appear in low-growing rounded mounds
- Flowers orbicular, 1-2 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. Prevention and Treatment.
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 Walkway at the Park, Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:




































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
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
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Slugs