Pansy

The garden pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) is a type of polychromatic large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower.^[2] It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section Melanium ("the pansies")^[3] of the genus Viola, particularly V. tricolor, a wildflower of Europe and western Asia known as heartsease. It is sometimes known as V. tricolor var. hortensis, but this scientific name is suspect. While V. tricolor var. hortensis Groenland & Rümpler is a synonym of Viola × wittrockiana,^[1] V. tricolor var. hortensis DC. refers to a horticultural variety of wild pansy (V. tricolor without interspecific hybridization) that had been illustrated in Flora Danica in 1777^[4]^[5] before the existence of Viola × wittrockiana.^[1]^[6]

For other uses of the name, see Pansy (disambiguation).

The chromosome number of Viola × wittrockiana is 2n = 44–52,^[6] with most cultivars being 2n = 48.^[7] The flower is 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 in) in diameter and has two slightly overlapping upper petals, two side petals, and a single bottom petal with a slight beard emanating from the flower's center. These petals are usually white or yellow, purplish, or blue.^[8] The plant may grow to 23 cm (9 in) in height, and prefers sun to varying degrees and well-draining soils.