Pansies are a variety of forms in the violet genus. The large-flowered garden pansies are usually biennial, while the horned violets are perennial. Many Viola species reproduce by self-seeding or runners.
Are pansies annual or perennial?
Pansies are both annual and perennial. The popular garden pansies are usually annual or biennial, while horned violets, also known as mini pansies, are perennial perennials.
Wild pansies, field pansies, yellow violets and other viola species grow wild in fields and meadows in temperate Europe and Asia, including in the mountains. In nature they occur in three colors:
- blue-violet,
- yellow or
- white.
Several Viola species were used to breed garden pansies with velvety, single or multi-colored, also spotted, striped, flamed or edged flowers.
One- and two-year-old Viola species
The ever-popular and widespread garden pansies are annual or biennial plants. They are sown in summer and the first flowers appear in autumn of the same year. In severe winters with permanent frost, the plants can die. In mild winters they bloom until the next summer. Then they enter. In a favorable location, the garden pansies can grow wild in the garden. They cope well with the partially shaded location, are otherwise quite frugal in terms of care and robust in their habitus. Sowing can be done outdoors in summer or autumn.
Perennial Viola species
These especially include horned violets, which are also called mini pansies. They are perennial, slightly fragrant perennials with a long flowering period. The flowers only curl up when there is severe frost, and they open again when there is a thaw, often throughout the winter. Horned violets come in all colors, including those with almost pure black flowers, e.g. B. Molly Sanderson.
The horned violets like stony soil as they grow naturally on rocky slopes. They should also be cut back and divided after flowering. This care measure ensures the longevity of the plant. Horned violets prefer a location in full sun, but - like all other pansies - are easy to care for.
Tips & Tricks
The garden pansies and horned violets differ not only in the size of their flowers. If you look closely at the flower, you will notice that out of five petals on pansies, four point upwards and one points downwards, while on horned violets three petals point upwards and two point downwards.
