Anyone who previously believed that horned violets and pansies were the same plants was wrong. These two look very similar. But in addition to many similarities, there are also many differences
What is the difference between horned violets and pansies?
Although horned violets and pansies both belong to the violet genus, they differ in origin, cultivation, flower arrangement and flowering time. Horned violets come from northern Spain and have smaller flowers that bloom for longer, while pansies come from central Europe and have large flowers but bloom for a shorter time.
Similarities between the two plants
Violas and pansies have, among other things, the following externally recognizable similarities:
- bushy, dense growth
- five-petal flowers (5 petals, 5 sepals, 5 stamens)
- Petals overlap at the edge
- an inferior ovary
- green, broad oval leaves
- numerous varieties in a wide variety of colors
Difficult to recognize externally
Furthermore, horned violets and pansies combine the following characteristics:
- Violet genus
- usually two-year lifespan
- non-toxic for humans and animals
- edible
- suitable for pot and outdoor cultivation
- prefer sunny to partially shaded location
- love humus, fresh to moist, nutrient-rich soils
- easy care
Different origins
Horn violets originally come from northern Spain and the Pyrenees. They can still be found wild there today. The pansies, on the other hand, are the result of numerous crossings of a total of 12 species of violets from Central Europe.
Different blossoms (times)
But there are also a lot of differences between these two plants. Let's start with the flowers. Basically, horned violets produce a higher number of flowers. However, these are smaller than the pansy flowers. The pansies have 4 upper petals and one lower petal. Horned violets have 3 upper petals and two lower petals.
horned violets bloom longer
There is also a small difference in flowering time. Horned violets usually bloom from April. In mild locations they can bloom in winter or all winter long. Their flowers can be present until August. If you cut them back, you will achieve a second bloom in autumn.
On the other hand, the flowers of pansies can usually only be seen from April to June/July. They cannot survive low temperatures around 0 °C. In addition, they are considered to be more sensitive to rain than horned violet flowers.
Tips & Tricks
In contrast to pansies, horned violets have the advantage that they like to sow themselves and grow wild. In addition, they usually survive the winter without appropriate protection, whereas pansies should be covered.
