By 
A versatile and useful set of bedding plants pansies and violas come in many different colours and patterns. Viola cornuta was introduced from Europe during the 18th century and used to breed the pansy. Since then hybrids have been developed to create elaborate patterns and colours.
Meadow Croft Garden Centre is staging a special pansy and viola festival between 15 to 23 March 2025 and the event is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary.
Is the pansy one of your favourites to plant in pots? Post a comment below about how you make use of bedding plants >>>
Each year new and experimental varieties are displayed for the first time. All the plants for the festival are grown by W.D Smith & Son, owners of Meadow Croft Garden Centre in their own glasshouses nearby, and then moved to the Garden Centre for the festival.
Mike Smith, Director of Meadow Croft Garden Centre, he says:
We get genetics from all over the world. The breeding industry for plants is huge… We have around 260 varieties [grown and on display for the festival].”
Ken Crowther talks to Mike Smith, Director of Meadow Croft Garden Centre in Battlesbridge, Essex about the growing of violas and pansies.
Difference between pansies and violas
Pansies are often grown as annuals, but they can survive one growing season and return. The flowers usually decline in the second season meaning they are actually a short-lived perennial.
The main differences are if the bloom has four petals pointing upward, and one petal pointing downward, it is a pansy. If the flower has two petals pointing upward and three pointing downward, it is a viola. Violas are smaller than pansies, and they bloom abundantly.
The planting season for pansies begins during March and the flowers can produce blooms throughout the summer. Autumn and winter flowering versions of pansies can be planted towards the end of summer.
Mike Smith says that violas are very hardy and can handle the cold weather well, so violas can be planted during the autumn for spring colour.
WorldRadioGardening.com
Let Ken Crowther help you with gardening tips and advice, – send him a question for his live show broadcast every third Sunday of the month on City Sound Radio. WhatsApp pictures and text to +44 7568 771825 to get an answer.
Alternatively ask Ken a question about garden plants and jobs by sending an email.
We’re delighted to have Gro-rite Horticulture sponsoring World Radio Gardening, find out about automatic pot watering systems available for mail order delivery.
Also, don’t forget – if you like what we do, why not tip Ken and team with a coffee – Buy us a coffee – as a thank you for the work done to bring this website to life.
