garden pansy

plant

Also known as: Viola wittrockiana

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The garden pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana) is a cultivated violet known for its velvety flowers, typically in shades of blue, yellow, and white. These plants grow about 6 to 12 inches tall and prefer rich soil in cool, damp climates.1

The name "pansy" originates from the French word pensée, meaning "thought," reflecting its association with contemplation. Pansies are the result of extensive domestication, with their exact origins uncertain due to long cultivation periods and diverse forms. The garden pansy is a hybrid, with Viola tricolor (also known as Johnny-jump-up) being one of its parent species.21

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pansy
Major species
The garden pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana) is a hybrid, one of whose parents is V. tricolor, which is a weed of European grainfields, the other parents being V. lutea and V. altaica. The tufted pansy, or horned viola (V. cornuta), is the parent of numerous forms of…
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The garden pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana) is a hybrid, one of whose parents is V. tricolor, which is a weed of European grainfields, the other parents being V. lutea and V. altaica. The tufted pansy, or horned viola (V. cornuta), is the parent of numerous forms of…
Read More