Viola - Pansy Envy Seeds

A variety of pansy with very surprising colours : bright olive green blooms that take on subtle shades of blue and yellow over time. A pansy that makes for marvellous contemporary compositions in pots with Heuchera and ornamental grasses, from March to August.

This tender little flower with retro appeal recalls the chromolithographs of bygone days. Often undervalued because it is misused in public spaces, it nevertheless deserves a special spot in the garden just as much as on windowsills.

Garden pansies, sometimes referred to as violas or violets, belong to the family Violaceae. They are generally cultivated as annuals or biennials. Pansies do not exist naturally since they are the result of hybridizations between several species of violets. There are many varieties, all of them featuring lovely five-petalled flowers, with or without spots, and in a variety of colours. The leaves are medium green, elliptical and widely crenate. They have a compact, branched habit.

Pansies are very undemanding and will thrive in sun or partial shade, in moderately rich, well-drained soil. Sow pansies from February to April for summer flowering or from June to August for flowering the following spring.

If you like having it in the garden, you will appreciate it most in a window box sitting on a window sill, where you can have it right under your nose without having to venture out into the cold weather. Combine pansies with, for example: primroses, wallflowers, grape-hyacinth, daisies... and even with grasses such as Japanese sedge for a modern effect.

Pansy petals are edible and their colours will bring a touch of originality to your salads and pastries. For this, just grow them as you would your vegetables, in the most natural way possible.