How to Tell the Difference Between Pansy and Viola Flowers

Pansy and viola are some of the most popular garden flowers. Easy to grow, these dainty flowers reach 6 to 12 inches in height and thrive in flowerbeds and flower pots. The viola, originally a small wildflower, is the ancestor of the modern pansy, created in the 1800s in England by Lord Gambier and his gardener, William Thompson.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Check the plastic tag sticking up from the pot or flat at your nursery to determine whether a plant is a pansy or a viola. Ask a nursery attendant for help if there is no tag.

2. Examine the color and size of the flowers. A viola flower is generally a blue-violet or cream color. If you see a viola beside a pansy, note that the viola plant has much smaller blossoms, while the pansy has blossoms 2 to 3 inches across. When in bloom, viola blossoms almost overpowers the color of its leaves and stems, giving the appearance of sea of violet-colored flowers blowing in the breeze. Viola has a delicate scent. Pansies bloom in mixes of yellow, white, blue, pink, burgundy, lavender, orange, and red. You can cut and display pansies in small vases.

3. Measure the height of the plant. A viola plant is shorter than the pansy, which can grow up to 12 inches tall.

Tips & Warnings

• Deadhead flowers to encourage new flower growth.

References

• he University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture: UT Gardens' Plants of the Month: Pansy and Viola
• Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension: Pansy