Viola Care: Growing Violets, Pansies, and Violas
The Viola genus offers cheerful, cool-season color with its familiar "faced" flowers (Pansies) or smaller, often spurred blossoms (Violas, Violets). Perfect for spring and fall containers, borders, and woodland gardens, these plants thrive in cooler temperatures and provide blooms when summer annuals may be flagging or haven't started yet. While some are true perennials, many popular garden types like pansies are treated as cool-season annuals or biennials, readily replaced or allowed to self-seed.
Common Types in the Viola Genus
Distinctions can be blurry, but common garden groups include:
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana)
- Large flowers (2-4 inches across), often with distinctive dark blotches ("faces").
- Huge range of colors and patterns.
- Typically grown as cool-season annuals or biennials. Decline quickly in summer heat.
- Ideal for mass plantings, containers, window boxes in spring and fall.
- Need consistent moisture and regular feeding for best performance.
Violas / Johnny-Jump-Ups (V. tricolor, V. cornuta & hybrids)
- Smaller flowers than pansies (0.5-1.5 inches), but often produced in greater profusion.
- Sometimes called "tufted pansies" or "horned violets" (due to small spur).
- Generally more heat tolerant and longer-blooming than large-flowered pansies, sometimes acting as short-lived perennials in moderate climates.
- Often self-seed readily. Classic Johnny-Jump-Up (V. tricolor) has purple, yellow, and white flowers. V. cornuta hybrids come in many colors.
- Excellent for edging, containers, rock gardens.
True Violets (Various species like V. odorata, V. sororia)
- Often perennial wildflowers or garden plants grown for foliage and/or small, typically blue/purple or white flowers, sometimes fragrant (V. odorata - Sweet Violet).
- Many prefer partial shade and moist, woodland conditions.
- Some can spread readily or self-seed aggressively (V. sororia - Common Blue Violet).
- Bloom primarily in spring.
Planting Violas, Pansies & Violets
These cool-season lovers need planting at the right time.
When to Plant
- Early Spring: Plant bedding plants as soon as soil can be worked, often 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. They tolerate light frost.
- Fall: Plant 4-6 weeks before the first hard freeze for fall color and potential overwintering (especially Violas) in milder zones. Fall planting often results in stronger spring displays.
- Seeds: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting date, or direct sow in late summer/early fall for spring bloom.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Light: Full sun is best during cool spring and fall weather. In areas with hot summers, partial shade (especially afternoon shade) is crucial to prolong survival and flowering. Woodland violets prefer partial to full shade.
- Soil: Fertile, moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. They dislike drying out but also resent waterlogged conditions.
- Temperature: Thrive in cool weather (ideally 40-70°F / 4-21°C). Flowering declines rapidly in sustained heat above 80°F (27°C).
- Spacing: Space plants 6-10 inches apart.
Planting Technique (Bedding Plants)
Select a spot with morning sun/afternoon shade (in most areas) or full sun (in cool climates). Ensure good drainage.
Amend soil with compost or other organic matter to improve fertility and moisture retention. Use quality potting mix for containers.
Dig a hole roughly the same size as the plant's cell pack or pot.
Gently remove the plant from its container. Loosen roots slightly if pot-bound. Place in the hole at the same depth it was growing.
Fill hole with soil, firming gently. Water thoroughly. Keep consistently moist, especially after planting.
Watering Violas & Pansies
- Consistent moisture is key, especially for pansies and violas during their active growing and blooming periods. Do not let the soil dry out completely.
- Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Container plants will need frequent monitoring and watering.
- Mulching can help conserve soil moisture.
Fertilizing Violas & Pansies
- These cool-season bloomers benefit from regular feeding, especially pansies in containers.
- Incorporate compost into the soil at planting.
- Use a balanced liquid fertilizer or water-soluble fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during active growth and bloom, following package directions. Slow-release fertilizer incorporated at planting also works well.
- Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to leggy growth.
Maintenance for Continuous Bloom
Deadheading (Essential!)
- Regularly removing spent flowers is the most important task for keeping pansies and violas blooming profusely.
- Pinch or snip off the faded flower along with its stem down to the next set of leaves. This prevents seed formation and signals the plant to produce more buds. Check plants every few days.
Managing Heat Stress
- As temperatures climb in summer, flowering will naturally decrease, and plants may become leggy or decline.
- Providing afternoon shade and consistent moisture can help prolong their season somewhat.
- In hot climates, pansies and violas are often removed in early summer and replaced with heat-tolerant annuals, with new ones planted again in fall. Some violas might survive summer in shade and rebound in fall.
Overwintering
- In zones 6/7 and warmer, violas and sometimes pansies planted in the fall may overwinter and rebloom in spring, especially if given some protection (mulch, sheltered location).
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Mostly related to environment or aphids.
Leggy Growth / Sparse Flowering
Symptoms and Management
- Stems become long and stretched with few flowers.
- Cause: Insufficient light (especially common when trying to grow in too much shade), high temperatures, lack of deadheading, sometimes over-fertilization (less common).
- Solution: Provide more sun (in cool weather) or brighter shade. Deadhead regularly. Cut leggy stems back moderately to encourage bushier growth (may temporarily reduce bloom). Ensure proper fertilization. Replace plants if heat stress is severe.
Aphids
Symptoms and Management
- Small insects clustered on new growth and buds.
- Control: Wash off with strong water spray. Use insecticidal soap if necessary. Often a temporary issue in spring/fall.
Fungal Diseases (Leaf Spot, Root Rot)
Symptoms and Management
- Can occur in overly wet conditions or with poor air circulation.
- Prevention/Control: Ensure good drainage. Water at the base. Space plants properly. Remove affected leaves/plants.
Conclusion
Violas, pansies, and violets are indispensable for adding cheerful color to the garden during the cooler months of spring and fall. Their ability to tolerate light frost makes them ideal early and late-season performers. By providing adequate sun (or appropriate shade in summer), consistent moisture, regular feeding, and diligent deadheading, you can maximize their vibrant floral display in containers, borders, and window boxes. Embrace their cool-season nature and enjoy their charming faces!
