Viola x wittrockiana Padparadja - Pansy

The 'Padparadja' Pansy is a variety of summer pansy that is covered, from spring to autumn, with a profusion of beautiful intense orange flowers. It can be paired, in the garden or a pot, with the Blackout Heuchera for an impressive contrast.

With its retro charm, this tender little flower evokes feelings of yesteryear. It is often undervalued because it is poorly used in public spaces, so it deserves a special place both in the garden and on windowsills.

Belonging to the Violaceae family, the Pansy, Viola x wittrockiana, is sometimes called the Giant Swiss Pansy. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, usually grown as an annual or even as a biennial. Pansies do not exist in the wild; they result from hybridisation between several species of violets. There are wide varieties, all of which bear adorable five-petaled flowers, spotted or not, and with varying colours. The leaves are medium green, elliptical, and broadly crenate, with a compact and ramified habit.

Pansies are not demanding, they will thrive in sun or partial shade, in moderately rich and well-drained soil. You can sow Pansies from February to April for summer flowering or from June to August for flowering the following spring.

If you love them in the garden, they will be most appreciated in containers, on the windowsill, so you can have them right under your nose while staying warm. You can pair them with the Black Out Heuchera and the Black Ophiopogon for a contemporary contrast.

The petals of pansies are edible, and their colours will bring a touch of originality to your salads and pastries. To do this, remember to grow them as you would grow your vegetables most naturally.