Growing pansies and violas is probably the easiest way to have colorful flowers in the garden when little else is blooming. Pansies (viola x wittrockiana or viola tricolor hortensis) and violas(viola tricolor) are tough as nails and easy to grow. If you have reasonably fertile soil and a partly sunny garden spot that doesn't have have standing water you can grow pansies and other members of the viola family.

Viola flowers have been grown in gardens since ancient times. They are native to Asia,Europe and cooler regions of North America and are close relatives of woodland violets.  Heartsease, also known as Johnny Jump Up, is a native European wildflower that has been selectively bred over the centuries for bigger flowers and brighter colors.

 Viola and pansy flowers have five petals consisting of two upper overlapping petals, two side petals and one large bottom petal. The flowers have a tiny,almost unnoticeable beard in the center.

The most common colors for viola flowers are white,yellow and shades of blue but newer hybrid varieties are now available in many colors including pink,orange,red,and black(very dark purple.)

The Three Types Of Pansy and Viola Flowers

This pansy has clear soild colors with no markings. Notice the  tiny, contrasting "eye" in the center of the flower.

Some pansies and viola flowers have markings called whiskers or penciling radiating from the center.

This type of pansy flower has a "face" consisting of spots on the center petals. This type of pansy is very popular.

Some newer pansy varieties are bred to have very large flowers and some even have double or ruffled flowers. These types tend to be much more expensive than older types.

Pansies Grow Great In The Garden Or In Containers

 Violas and pansies make great companions for early spring blooming bulbs like daffodils and tulips. A large planting of blue pansies or Johnny Jump Ups with yellow tulips or trumpet daffodils make a breathtaking spring display.

Violas are also great for container plantings with or without flowering bulbs. Plant densely for a riot of color. They will often bloom sporadically all winter. I had a large pot of pansies that froze solid a few years back. The leaves turned black and melted when the temperature rose and I was sure they were dead but they came back from the roots and were blooming again within a couple of weeks.

When your potted spring pansies are finished you can replace them with petunias or other summer annuals.

Pansy Care Quick Tips

Pansies and violas can be planted in autumn in warmer winter areas. They are sold in flats or large pots containing several plants in most garden centers. They can also be grown from seed but they are finicky and have a low germination rate so it's probably better to start with transplants if you're a beginner.

If you live in a location that has extreme winters you can plant your pansies in the very early spring and again in late summer for fall blooms. They will sometimes overwinter even in very cold areas if they are mulched after the first frost.

All violas prefer fertile soil that is moist but not wet and partial shade. They suffer few disease and pest problems but they may be affected by fungal diseases or slug damage if spring weather is wet and cloudy. Aphids will sometimes infest violas. A good insecticidal soap will keep aphids in check.

Apply a balanced granular fertilizer at planting time and every month for the rest of the season. The plants will benefit from a foliar feeding of liquid seaweed every couple of weeks.

Johnny Jump Ups (viola tricolor cornuta) may live for several years and they are great at reseeding themselves so plant them in a spot that is suitable and you may have them permanently. Large flowered pansies hate hot weather but they will also sometimes reseed when the weather turns warm. The only problem with this is that the seedlings probably won't be  like the original plants.
 

Growing pansies and violas in your garden is the one of the cheapest and easiest ways to have almost carefree color in your garden for all but the hottest months of the year.