Pansies and horned violets in comparison: That's the difference

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

Garden Pansies (Viola wittrockiana) as Horned Violet (Viola cornuta) belong to the genus of violets (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. Despite the physical 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, naturalize 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 creative name to offer.

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

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

However, the larger bloom 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 buy pansies, here's what you can do with the planting of pansies have to consider.

Horned violets and their benefits

Horned 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 naturalise
• Increased winter hardiness
• Perennial Plants (Biennial to short-lived)
• Form rhizomes over winter and spread in this way
• The smaller flowers are less sensitive, e.g. B. in the rain
• Longer flowering period, more flowers
• Smaller growth height (20 – 30 cm)
• Less demands on the nutrient supply

There are, therefore, many reasons why horned violets have stolen the affection of many garden enthusiasts from their older 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. How your Planting and caring for horned violets, so that you can really enjoy the endurance of these perpetual bloomers, you can find out here.

When to plant pansies, when to plant horned violets?

Horned violets and pansies can be planted out 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, present themselves in a colorful flower dress from April to October. Planting time is irrelevant here.