There aren’t many flowers that can handle cold weather, but pansies and violas come in a lot of different colors when it gets cooler. You can even mix and match them in the garden to give your early-blooming flower bed more color. The two flowers look so much alike that many people mistake one for the other. Some even think they are the same flower.
With their cheerful, smiling faces violas and pansies are two of the most popular cool weather annuals. Available in a rainbow of colors, they’re staples for flower beds borders, window boxes, and containers.
But are violas and pansies actually the same flower? While closely related, they have some key differences when it comes to appearance, growing habits, and ideal uses in the garden. Read on to learn how to tell violas and pansies apart.
Botanical Background
Botanically speaking, violas and pansies share a common ancestry Here’s a quick overview
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All modern pansies trace their lineage back to the viola flower (Viola species), a European native.
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Over hundreds of years, various viola species were crossed to create new hybrids with larger, more colorful blooms. These hybrids became known as pansies.
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So technically, pansies are a type of viola that was selectively bred for its bold colors and bigger flowers. Modern violas typically resemble older viola species more closely.
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The two main classes of violas sold today are:
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Tufted pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) – Known commonly as just “pansies.”
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Horned violas (Viola cornuta) – Usually called “violas.”
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There are also many other viola species, but tufted pansies and horned violas are the most widely available.
Appearance and Size
Though genetically similar, there are visual differences between pansies and violas:
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Flowers: Pansies have larger, wider flowers, generally 2-4 inches across, compared to violas at 1/2 to 1 inch wide.
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Petals: Pansy flowers have four petals pointing up and one pointing down. Violas have two petals pointing up and three pointing down.
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Colors: Pansies come in a huge range of solid, clear colors, blotched patterns, and multicolored mixes. Violas have a more limited color palette in the traditional purple, blue, yellow, white and multi-colored blend “faces.”
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Plant height: Pansies grow taller, averaging 6 to 9 inches in height, while violas hug the ground at 4 to 6 inches tall.
So in general, pansies have bigger, bolder blooms on taller plants than the more delicate violas.
Ideal Growing Conditions
When it comes to choosing sites, violas and pansies share preferences for:
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Sun exposure: Full sun (at least 6 hours/day) for best flowering. Light afternoon shade in hot climates.
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Soil: Moist, well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter.
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pH range: Slightly acidic to neutral, between 5.5-7.0.
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Hardiness: Can tolerate light frosts, but not deep freezes. Hardy in zones 5-9 as short-lived perennials. Grown as cool weather annuals in colder climates.
Violas differ from pansies in that they’re generally more heat resistant in zones 8-9 and better able to reseed under the right conditions.
Uses in the Garden
When selecting violas vs. pansies, keep their size differences in mind:
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Pansies make a bigger visual impact in borders, beds, window boxes, and containers. They add dramatic color when massed together.
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More compact violas are perfect for edging paths or cascading from hanging baskets and wall planters. The profuse blooms create colorful carpets.
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Plant violas near walkways or the front of beds where their petite flowers can be appreciated up close. Use taller pansies to make a bold statement in back.
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Combine different viola colors together for a lively mix; pansies look best in sweeps of one color.
Care and Maintenance
Violas and pansies both flourish with similar care:
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Water 1 inch per week. Avoid wet feet.
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Fertilize monthly with a balanced flower fertilizer.
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Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.
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Watch for slug and snail damage in wet climates.
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Cut plants back periodically to stimulate new growth.
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Mulch beds for cooler roots and weed prevention.
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Plant in successions for continuous color.
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Treat as short-lived perennials or annuals. Replace yearly.
With proper selection and care, both violas and pansies will flower for months, lighting up gardens with their captivating colors.
How to Choose Between Violas vs. Pansies
When deciding whether to use violas or pansies in your garden, here are some key considerations:
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Select pansies for bold, clear colors, bigger blooms, and greater cold tolerance. Go for violas if you prefer more delicate, floriferous flowers.
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Use violas for edgings, containers, and hanging baskets thanks to their compact size. Plant pansies in beds and borders to maximize their visual impact.
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Pick pansies for cooler climates and areas with colder winters. Go for heat-loving violas in zones 8-9.
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Opt for viola mixes to interplant with other flowers. Mass single pansy colors together for dramatic effect.
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Choose violas if you want lots of blooms and the option to self-seed. Select pansies for bolder color impact over a long season.
Quick ID Guide: Violas vs. Pansies
Use this handy cheat sheet to tell violas and pansies apart at a glance:
Pansies
- Large 2-4” flowers
- 4 petals point up, 1 points down
- Wide range of solid colors
- Taller plants, 6-9” height
- Blooms early spring to frost
- Cold hardy
Violas
- Small 1/2-1” flowers
- 2 petals point up, 3 point down
- Pastel shades and blends
- Shorter plants, 4-6” height
- Bloom early spring to summer
- More heat tolerant
No matter which you choose, pansies and violas will reward you with months of bright, cheery color in the garden. With their sweet little faces smiling up at you, they’re sure to make you smile too!
Pansy Flowers Are Violas… of a Kind
Because pansy plants are scientifically called Viola wittrockiana, it’s easy to see why some people might think the two flowers are the same. They are a type of viola, but they are not the same as the plants that flower shops usually call violas. Pansy varieties started as a cross between the common viola and the wild viola. There are a few notable differences.
Identifying Pansies vs Violas
Both flowers have five petals, but the telltale difference between species is the orientation of the flowers. The pansy flower has five petals that stand up, and one of them usually curves down toward the ground, making the flower look like it has a little pout. Violas, on the other hand, have two petals that stretch up and three that stretch down. This gives them a bit more horizontal balance when they are shown. There are also differences in the colors available. Lastly, pansy flowers run between six and 12 inches tall. That makes them significantly taller than most viola varieties.
What’s YOUR Pick? | Pansies or Violas or Both? ♀️
FAQ
What is the difference between a pansy and a viola?
Do violas come back every year?
Do violas prefer sun or shade?
Will violas bloom all summer?
What is the difference between a viola & a pansy?
Violas lie lower on the earth than Pansies, which are more upright. Pansies have a wider variety of colors. Violas are a tougher plant in winter. Pansies give a fuller coverage of color due to their larger flowers. Violas can take more shade. Violas can trail if planted on the edge of a hanging basket. Pansies flowers get bigger in spring.
Are Pansy flowers the same?
Some even think they are the same flower. It’s understandable why some people would think the two flowers are the same because pansy plants are scientifically known as Viola wittrockiana. They are a species of the viola family, but not the same as the plants commonly labeled violas at flower nurseries.
Are violas tougher in winter than pansies?
Violas are a tougher plant in winter. Pansies give a fuller coverage of color due to their larger flowers. Violas can take more shade. Violas can trail if planted on the edge of a hanging basket. Pansies flowers get bigger in spring. Violas have a more pungent sweet scent.
What is the difference between a Panola and a viola?
Panolas are the result of breeding Pansies and Violas. Violas sport profuse small flowers. The main difference between Pansies, Violas, and the new Panolas is blossom size. Pansies have large flowers and fewer of them, Violas sport profuse small flowers, and Panolas sit right in the middle with abundant, medium-sized flowers.