Purple Pansy - 10 cm pot

Pansies are short-lived perennial hybrids, or cultivated as annuals or biennials; the parent species generally come from Europe and Turkey, with the most commonly used by breeders being: V. lutea, V. tricolor, V. odorata, V. cornuta, V. x wittrockiana.

Plant in a 10 cm diameter pot
The color is assorted and cannot be chosen


Pansies have very large, brightly colored flowers, ranging from white to pure black, scentless, with five petals, featuring a dark or yellow center that contrasts with the rest of the flower. Some varieties have dark veins that give the flower the appearance of a face; each year, new varieties are added to the many already existing. The leaves are dark green, ovate, and not very decorative; flowering occurs during the cooler periods of the year, in autumn and winter, and early spring.

Exposure: the choice of exposure depends on the time of year you prefer to plant them and thus enjoy the splendid flowering. If you decide to plant them in autumn, allowing them to bloom in autumn and the following spring, it is best to place them in a sunny area to ensure the seedlings receive as many hours of sunlight as possible during the cold winter days. If, on the other hand, you prefer to plant them in spring, it is advisable to place them in partial shade; otherwise, during the summer months, they could easily be scorched and dried out by the sun's rays on the hottest days. It is not recommended to plant them in a completely shaded area, as too little sunlight leads to poor flowering. If desired, they can be placed in containers, allowing you to move them to the sun in spring and to shade in summer. They are not afraid of the cold, so it is possible to plant them even when there is a threat of frost; in fact, low temperatures usually promote seed germination and abundant flowering.

Watering: they require plenty of water; the soil should always be moist but not waterlogged; it is preferable to water them frequently, allowing the substrate to dry slightly before watering again. To encourage flowering, it is advisable to fertilize regularly with fertilizer for flowering plants, at least every 20-30 days.

Soil: they do not have particular needs regarding the growing substrate; if the soil in our garden is too heavy and calcareous, it is advisable to amend it with peat, sand, and balanced potting soil to create a substrate rich in organic material and well-drained.

Propagation: can occur by cutting or by seed. Cuttings are taken in spring, rooting the stems in a mixture of peat and sand that should be kept in a cool, humid place until fully rooted. Usually, pansies are grown from seed, as each seedling produces many seeds and they are therefore easily obtainable (unless very specific varieties are desired); for sowing, prepare a container with balanced soil, peat, and sand, well mixed, moisten the substrate, and then scatter the seeds, which should be covered with a light layer of sand to maintain moisture. Pansy seed trays should be covered with transparent plastic and kept in a cool, dark place; these two conditions favor germination. If desired, they can be sown directly in the ground in a shaded area, but in this case, germination is not always guaranteed. Seedlings should be planted when they have produced at least two pairs of leaves, in spring or autumn, even late in the season.

Pests and diseases: pansies are very susceptible to slugs and whiteflies; they can also be attacked by aphids.