PASSIONATE PANSIES AND SHRINKING VIOLAS

What is the easiest way to tell the difference between our beloved pansies and violas? Their size of course! As the idiom “shrinking violet” suggests, violas are the smaller of these two beauties although it’s the Victorian meaning for viola which refers to “modesty” which gives a little more context to the idiom’s origin. Pansy, on the other hand, means “to think” and is almost always referred to in the context of love, which is so appropriate given how gorgeous they are! Literature suggests this is from Victorian references but also from French origin. The pansy flower has a striking likeness to a human face and has a tendency to bow forward, in deep thought in late summer giving it ample claim to its name, derived from the French word pensée, meaning “thought”.

From literature and arts to folklore and mythology, pansies and violas have a history and story that could fill an entire book. Shakespeare used references to both pansies and violas in both Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream while the ancient Greeks used violas in love potions, thinking it to be a symbol of love and fertility.

BRIGHTEN UP WINTER WITH VIOLAS AND PANSIES

One of nature’s gifts to us at the end of winter is the sweet, fragrant face of pansies and vilolas. These gorgeous little plants really take the bite out of winter.

Bring some joy to your winter garden with these special flowers which are extremely easy to grow! They come from the ancient Viola species which has more than five hundred species. The name pansy is derived from the French word pensée meaning "thought", and refers to the flower because it looks like a human face, nodding in thought. Pansies have bigger faces and leaves than their cousin the viola which is also known as Heart's Ease.

PERKY PANSIES

The Pansy is an essential component in every winter garden. Their cheerful and perky little faces brighten the dullest of winter gardens and will undoubtedly put a smile on your face.

Viola wittrockiana, aka Pansy, is a result of cross breeding various Viola species. Pansies are the larger and more popular cousin of the commonly known Viola. Used mainly as an annual, they are the most recognisable and popular of all the winter flowering seedlings.

The blotch markings in the centre of the Pansy flower, appear to be face like. It is therefore easy to understand why the word “Pansy” is derived from the French word pensée, meaning “thought”.

VIBRANT VIOLA

Violas are the one of the most versatile plants you are likely to plant in your garden. Often considered to be the lesser cousin of the Pansy, the Viola is actually far more tolerant of extreme weather conditions and is relentless in its ability to keep flowering.

Viola cornuta belongs to the Violaceae family and has a complicated genetic history. Through modern breeding and selection methods, Viola cornuta is the species found in your garden centre – the baby Pansy if you like. Violas are native to the mountains of Eastern and Western Europe.

Violas are herbaceous yet hardy little annuals, maturing at a height and width of approximately 15cm. The foliage forms a dense mound from which the short flower stem elevates. The leaves are generally heart shaped with scalloped edges and are usually a healthy, dark green in colour. The flowers are bilaterally symmetric, formed from five petals. Four are upswept or fan-shaped with two on each side. The lower petal is broad and lobed, pointing downward.