Difference between viola and pansy?

Can someone tell me what is the difference between a viola and a pansy?

I see them in seed catalogs and they both seem to be a part of the genus Viola. Is it that Pansies are Viola x wittrockiana and all other species are called Violas?

They are described similarly in terms of habit and growing conditions, but the pansies seem to have a wider color range. Any other differences I should know about before planting them next year? Is the flower size similar?

Thanks!
--Mary

i think violas are smaller and more delicate looking, at least the ones i have seen.

You seem to have a pretty good grasp of the difference. Pansy is just a common name given to the larger flowered hybrids. As far as colors go, I've seen plenty of new hybrid Violas in just as many colors, some of them more complex and interesting. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to make that huge pansy bloom so you don't get as many per plant as you do with the smaller-flowered Violas. It's too bad you have to wait until spring to plant them. Here, we plant Violas now and they bloom clear through winter even if it snows.

ok, my addiction has kicked in, now i want to plant both !!!!!!!!!!

I forgot to mention "panolas", a name which I loathe. It's basically a small-flowered Viola crossed with Viola x wittrockiana (pansy) to yield fairly large blooms that appear more profusely. I hate the name but I love the hybrids.

that name sounds more like some kind of bread than a flower LOL. you are right, not a cool name

And since you mentioned planting both... I like planting a multicolored pansy cultivar such as a purple with a white blotch and mixing it with a solid Viola in a coordinating color :)

oh that sounds so pretty!

Thanks plantfreak!

I love my little violas. They pop up everwhere all around my yard every spring. The color combinations are beautiful and they don't ask for anything.

Are those the Johnny Jump ups ? I planted some seed but I don't think they will come up ( too warm here) . I need something to go in my always shaded bed in the front that will come back for a while. I am in zone 7a. it was 85 here Saturday and Sunday now it is 72 for the high the rest of the week and 45 at night .

regina,
i think that johnny jumpups are the same as violas. when it gets hotter, my violas die back.

I think the johnny jump-ups are the smaller ones.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/253/

Check out the above link from Dave's Garden PlantFiles to know about Johnny Jump-Ups. You can branch out into reading about Violas and Pansies from there.