*Viola tricolor Linnaeus. Common name: Pansy, Johnny-jump-up. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Mar-Aug (-Oct); chasmogamous fruit Apr-Aug (-Sep). Habitat: Lawns, garden borders, railroad rights-of-way, commonly cultivated. Distribution: Native of Europe.
ID notes: This species is similar to the other two widely distributed pansies in our region, introduced V. arvensis and native V. rafinesquei. It differs from V. arvensis in the palmatifid stipules, petals well surpassing the sepals, and the upper petals commonly purple-black or occasionally the whole corolla purple. It differs further from V. rafinesquei in the common presence of basal leaves, stipules with the terminal leaf-like lobe much larger and with 4 or more crenations per side, leaf blade much longer than broad and with 4 or more teeth per side, and corolla commonly cream with upper petals purple-black or occasionally with all purple petals. It is most similar to the barely escaped garden pansy, V. ×wittrockiana, distinguished most obviously by its consistently smaller and usually less dramatically colorful flowers and narrower leaves.
Origin/Endemic status: Europe
Taxonomy Comments: Apparently hybridizes rarely with V. arvensis (Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino 2023).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl2, G, Il, K4, Mo3, NE, NS, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, WH3, Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), Haines (2001); > Viola tricolor L. ssp. tricolor — Can; > Viola tricolor L. var. tricolor — FNA6. Basionym: Viola tricolor L. 1753
Links to other floras: > Viola tricolor var. tricolor - FNA6
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Widely cultivated, erect to sprawling annual/biennial that occasionally escapes to lawns, garden borders and railroad rights-of-way. Native of Europe.
Stems: Stems angled, sparingly branched, sometimes purplish, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petioles with a large pair of deeply divided stipules at the base; oval-heart-shaped to lance-shaped, with a few teeth, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on long, ascending stalks from leaf axils; multi-colored, ¾-1¼ in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 spreading, unequal petals; typically the upper 2 petals are violet or purple, the lateral 2 are white and bearded near the base, and the lowermost is yellow, but other color variations are possible.
Fruits: Fruit an oblong-oval capsule.
Comments:
Height: 5-14 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Widely cultivated, erect to sprawling annual/biennial that occasionally escapes to lawns, garden borders and railroad rights-of-way. Native of Europe.
stems: Stems angled, sparingly branched, sometimes purplish, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petioles with a large pair of deeply divided stipules at the base; oval-heart-shaped to lance-shaped, with a few teeth, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on long, ascending stalks from leaf axils; multi-colored, ¾-1¼ in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 spreading, unequal petals; typically the upper 2 petals are violet or purple, the lateral 2 are white and bearded near the base, and the lowermost is yellow, but other color variations are possible.
fruits: Fruit an oblong-oval capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: Europe
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