Pansy

Description:

The pansy is a group of large-flowered hybrid plants cultivated as garden flowers. Pansies are derived from viola species Viola tricolor hybridized with other viola species, these hybrids are referred to as Viola × wittrockiana or less commonly Viola tricolor hortensis. Some unrelated species, such as the Pansy Monkeyflower, also have "pansy" in their name. The common words "pansy" and "viola" are often confused. Pansies have four petals pointing upwards, and only one pointing down. Violas have three petals pointing up and two pointing down.Thus Viola cornuta is correctly referred to as a pansy. However, modern horticulturalists tend to use the term "pansy" for those multi-coloured large-flowered hybrids that are grown for bedding purposes every year, while "viola" is usually reserved for smaller, more delicate annuals and perennials.

Habitat:

Plants grow well in sunny or partially sunny positions in well-draining soils. Pansies are perennial, but normally grown as biennials or annuals because of their leggy growth. The first year plant produces greenery, and bears flowers and seeds in its second year of growth. Afterwards, the plant dies like an annual. Because of selective human breeding, most garden pansies bloom the first year, some in as little as nine weeks after sowing.

Notes:

Find more about these beautiful flowers in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy