Pansies and Horned Violets are very similar and closely related. Nevertheless, there are some clear differences between the two heralds of spring.

Pansies and Horned Violets are very similar and closely related

Pansies (Viola wittrockiana) and horned violets (Viola cornuta) belong to the violet genus (Viola ). At first glance, the two species look confusingly similar, but it is worth taking a closer look. The cultivated forms of pansies were created from crossing different, mainly Central European species of this genus. Wild horned violets, on the other hand, feel at home in the Pyrenees on rocky areas and alpine meadows at altitudes of up to 2500 meters. The original range of the two flowering plants hardly overlaps. The demands and adaptation of the visually very similar plants to their surroundings are correspondingly different. But despite the spatial separation, garden pansies and horned violets are so closely related that they can be crossed with each other without any problems. The resulting hybrids reveal a lot about the different requirements and characteristics of the two plant species. The so-called mini pansies (Viola cornuta) have smaller flowers, go wild particularly easily and can bloom through the winter in mild weather.

Pansies and their benefits

Pansies with their heart-shaped leaves look out at us with their friendly flowers from March to November. In the Middle Ages they were a symbol of good thoughts. In the later naming, the meaning was probably rather suppressed. But because the position of the petals is not correct for the term "violet", the botanist had to get creative. The stepmother (lower petal) superimposes her daughters on the left and right (side petals). These, in turn, make the stepdaughters (rear petals) disappear in the back row. With so much creativity in naming, it is almost understandable that for 111 years people forgot to give the pansy a botanical name. However, pansies have more than one creativeBid names.

The flowers of the pansy are big and colorful

Compared to horned violets, they can score with the following:

  • A bigger blossom
  • A taller growth (30 cm)

However, the larger flower makes pansies more susceptible to damage from rain. The motto here is: find a sheltered place for the plants. But the differences don't stop with the sensitivity to rain. Due to their origin, pansies have individual demands on their environment, which you have to consider when planting them in your own garden or on the balcony. If you decide to plant pansies, you can find out here what you need to consider when planting pansies.

Violet and its benefits

Violets are smaller and more delicate than pansies. But as so often in life, appearances are deceptive. Horned violets, which come from the mountains, offer all sorts of advantages compared to their Central European relatives:

  • Like to self-seed and naturalize
  • Increased winter hardiness
  • Perennials (Biennials to Short-lived)
  • Form rhizomes over winter and spread like this
  • The smaller flowers are less sensitive, e.g. in the rain
  • Longer flowering period, more flowers
  • Low growth (20 - 30 cm)
  • Less nutritional requirements
The flowers of the horned violet are smaller than those of the pansy

So there are many reasons why horned violets have stolen the affections of many garden enthusiasts from their big sisters and are enjoying ever-increasing popularity. But the robust horned violets also want to get hold of a spot in the garden where they can perform at their best. Here you can find out how to plant and care for your horned violets so that you can really enjoy the endurance of these perpetual bloomers.

When to plant pansies, when to plant horned violets?

Violet and pansy can be planted almost all year round. From March to October, the two flowering sisters can move into your garden if the ground is frost-free. However, with pansies, the planting time influences the flowering time. Planting in autumn leads to flowering that lasts until late spring with a short winter break. Pansies planted in spring flower from March into summer. Horned violets, on the other hand, have a longer flowering period and, with the right care, can be seen from April to Aprilinto October in a colorful dress of blossoms. Planting time is irrelevant here.

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Garden Design