Pansies and Violas: What is the Difference?

I have a love-hate relationship with pansies. Spring arrives, and I cannot resist their cheerful smiling faces. Each June, as they fade away and wither under the summer heat, I vow never again to plant them. But as we emerge from winter and I am desperate for colorful flowers, I again find myself putting them back into the shopping cart. And the vicious cycle repeats.

Pansies signal the beginning of a new season more than any other annual on the market. They are one of the first blooming plants available, and with good reason. They grow best in the cool of spring and die out when the heat arrives.

Pansies are versatile and equally happy in a container or in the ground. It is hard to beat the brightness and purity of their flowers, which pop with every color in the rainbow. Under the right conditions, they bloom their heads off.

Since they are cool-loving annuals, it’s best to plant them in mid-March. The earlier they enter the ground, the quicker they establish before the heat arrives. Please ensure the plants are kept consistently moist so they keep blooming.

Applying fertilizer when you plant and again a month later will help push growth and ensure more blooms. While not required, periodically deadheading faded flowers reduces seed formation and produces more flowers.

What about violas? Is there a difference between a viola and a pansy? The answer is yes and no. All pansies are violas but not all violas are pansies. Confusing, right? Viola is the genus for both plants. Pansy is a common name for violas with larger flowers.

What we call a viola has a much smaller flower, less than a size of a nickel, and the plants are more abundant. Pansy flowers are much larger and showier from a distance but produce fewer flowers. Violas may be slightly more heat and cold-tolerant, lasting longer into the summer and enduring the chill of fall.

How can you tell the difference besides flower size? Pansies have four petals pointing upward and one pointing downward. Violas have two petals pointing upward and three petals pointing down. But does it matter if you enjoy the colorful blooms?

What about planting in the fall? Again, this vicious cycle. Pansies draw me in again in the fall. Fall plantings in early September can brighten tired and worn-out summer annual beds or containers. Barring a hard freeze into the low 20s, pansies and violas can continue to flower up through Thanksgiving or even Christmas.

In south Dallas, pansies are planted in the fall and bloom all winter. By spring, plantings are full and lush. This far north, cold usually kills back the plants. They can overwinter due to milder winters or sufficient snow cover during harsh cold spells. Plants that survived the winter will start flowering in early March. Unfortunately, they do not always fully recover, which leads to the cycle of repeat spring planting.

So, will I or won’t I surrender to temptation and plant pansies this spring? The answer is a resounding no. Right up until I get to the garden center, and their cheery smiling faces again say, take me home. Guess I am a sucker after all.

by Dennis Patton, Horticulture Agent, March 17, 2023