Viola cornuta F1 Penny Blue - Horned pansy

Viola 'Penny Blue' is an early flowering and particularly abundant variety. It produces flowers of a pure and intense blue, with a delicately painted yellow and white heart enhanced by dark blue "whiskers". The plants are compact and branched, excellent in borders, containers, and hanging baskets. This biennial plant appreciates humus-rich soils and dappled sunlight.

Horned pansies belong to the Violaceae family. They grow wild in the Pyrenees. They are low-growing perennial plants that have given rise to numerous hybrids. Often crossed with Viola tricolour (wild pansy), their most famous descendants are horticultural pansies. 'Penny Blue' is a compact and spreading herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 15cm (6in) when flowering. Its dark green, ovate and serrated evergreen leaves form a spreading tuft. This plant is covered with flowers from spring to autumn. Its compound flowers with 5 petals resemble those of small pansies, but their petals are arranged differently. The petals are of a pure, intense and velvety blue, surrounding a bright yellow heart, finely marked with dark blue whiskers. The plant spreads quite quickly with its rhizomes, and self-seeds very easily in the garden (although not always faithfully).

Horned pansies are suitable for low borders, pots, and balconies, where they can be combined with other plants that flower in spring and summer (forget-me-nots, dwarf daffodils, daisies, primroses, botanical tulips, and summer and autumn asters, etc.). The flowers are edible, so use them to decorate your plates, or even add some to salads to give them a touch of colour.

Our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners. Upon receipt, transplant and store them in shelters (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before being planted outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.