Pansies ( Viola x wittrockiana ) and violas ( Viola tricolor ) come from the same genus and are often interchangeably touch to as " violas . " The two plants are botanically from dissimilar species , however .

Pansies ( Viola x wittrockiana ) andviolas(Viola tricolour ) come from the same genus and are often interchangeably referred to as " violas . " The two plant are botanically from different species , however . To tell between these ordinarily mistaken fuck works , look closely at their flowers , hardiness characteristics and size .

Plant Origins

genus Viola are a wildflower native to Europe , and they ’re more unremarkably known as Johnny jump - ups in the United States . This species ego - seed better than fag , permit the plants to appear in field throughout the landscape painting without much attention from the gardener . faggot are a result from a cross between the wild variety of viola and lean not to spread as pronto .

Growth Requirements

Pansies , which thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 10 , are less hardy than Viola , which put up USDA zones 4 to 10 . Both species perform good in moist , well - drained soil deep in constitutional subject and full sun . Violas can thrive in part tone as well . Though assort as a perennial , pansies are normally grown as annual . genus Viola are well capable to winter , cause them a more reliable biennial or recurrent gain to the garden .

Bloom Qualities

The blooms are typically the most obvious feature to distinguish between pansies and viola . flower of pansies are larger , more rounded in shape , and they amount in a enceinte variety of gloss , including shades of orange , reddish , pink , spicy , violet , jaundiced and white . Violas produce many more bloom per industrial plant most commonly in shades of blue , yellow , violet and white . The flowers of both species have blush that can resemble a face , although pansies lean to have a greater contrast between the master bloom semblance and the darker streak in the inwardness .

Growth Characteristics

While Viola tricolor hortensis may get through 6 to 12 inches tall , viola are typically between 3 and 8 column inch in superlative with a spread of 9 to 12 inches . Pansies have a mounded form in contrast to the spread riding habit of violas . Flowers come out on violas from midspring through midfall and on Milquetoast from early fall through early wintertime and mid- to later spring . The inflorescence season can be prolonged on both metal money by dead - heading .

References

Blue pansy isolated