In fall, pansies and violas pop up everywhere. Garden centers are crowded with their happy flower faces. Side by side they reside in beds, edges, baskets, and window boxes. But what’s the difference between these two bedding buddies?
Standing face to flower face, take a closer look. Count the petals and look at the direction in which they point. If the flower face has two petals pointing upward and three downward, you are peering into the “eyes” of a viola. If the face has two petals pointing upward, two pointing sideways and one pointing downward, you are meeting a pansy. Pansy flowers are larger than their viola cousin but also have fewer flowers. The pansy face has been bred into a more circular shape. Both flowers come in a broad selection of cheerful colors and friendly faces.
Horticulturists, seeing eye dogs for gardeners, help us discern beyond the flower façade into the history, systematics, genetics, and performance. Both are members of the Violaceae family (Violet) and belong to genus Viola. Botanists classify “all pansies are violas but not all violas are pansies.” Pansies are a hybrid of the European wildflower Viola tricolor aka as heartsease for the heart-shaped leaves. Johnny jump-up, another common name for viola, describes the way the seedpod disperses seed far and wide.
Violas fill a bed faster, look better earlier, display more color, and are more cold tolerant than pansies.
Hybridizing pansies began in Europe in the early 19th century. By 1888 US garden catalog sales reported pansy seeds were the most popular flower purchased by home gardeners. Fast forward to the 21st century and plant breeders in the US, Netherlands, and Japan continue an aggressive breeding program.
Pansies and violas are cold tolerant annuals. Northern climates grow the duo in spring and summer; southern climates grow them from Thanksgiving through Easter. Hence, at any time of year pansies and violas are blooming somewhere in North America.
The Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia (UGA) have compared pansy and viola performance for years. The data reveal violas as better performers overall. They fill a space faster, look better earlier, display more color, and are more cold tolerant than pansies.
Pansy flowers are bred larger and rounder than cousin viola.
Marketing reports indicate consumers purchase more pansies than violas. UGA horticulturist Allan Armitage conjectures “the adage ‘bigger is better’ seems to be gospel when consumers are comparing violas and pansies on the retail bench.”
Pansy and viola flowers are edible and sources of vitamins A and C. Horticulturist Steve Bender advises growing both among winter lettuces to add flavor and color to tossed salads. However, since commercial growers routinely spray greenhouse grown plants, be cautious in eating pansies and violas from big box stores and garden centers. Safe seed is available from Renee’s Garden online catalog.
Culinary herbalist Susan Belsinger candies violas to garnish punch bowls and tea sandwiches and in making jellies, butters, and fancy desserts. She sprinkles whole pansy flowers over the top of dishes.
Home sown Johnny Jump- ups are edible and used to make salads, candied flowers, and candied flowers.
Violas and pansies are playful plants for children. When Victorian children cut out strings of headless two-sided paper dolls, they inserted a pansy or viola stem for each head to make a flower paper doll puppet. If paper wasn’t available, they folded leaves for the body and slit a hole in the fold to insert the pansy or viola stem for the head. The expressive flower faces open the door to mime, verbal play, and creative dramatics.
So what’s the difference? Try their cold weather color in the garden this winter and find out.
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