Editing Pansy (section)

== Cultivation ==
=== Historical background ===
[[File:Pansy bi colour.jpg|thumb|A bicolor pansy]]

In the early 19th century, [[Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet]] (1785–1861), daughter of [[Emma, Lady Tankerville]] and the [[Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville|Earl of Tankerville]], collected and cultivated every sort of ''Viola tricolor'' (commonly, heartsease) she could procure in her father's garden at [[Walton-upon-Thames]], Surrey. Under the supervision of her gardener, William Richardson, a large variety of plants was produced via cross-breeding. In 1812, she introduced her pansies to the horticultural world, and, in 1813, Mr. Lee of Vineyard Nursery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pansy - Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants: From Acacia to Zinnia |url=https://ebrary.net/28039/environment/pansy |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Ebrary}}</ref> a well-known florist and nurseryman, discovered her collection and further cultivated the flower. Other nurserymen followed Lee's example, and the pansy became a favorite among the public.

About the same time that Lady Bennett was busy cultivating heartsease, James, Lord Gambier was doing the same in his garden at Iver under the advice and guidance of his gardener William Thompson. A yellow viola, ''Viola lutea'', and a wide-petalled pale yellow species of Russian origin, ''Viola altaica'' were among the crosses that laid the foundation for the new hybrids classed as ''Viola'' × ''wittrockiana'', named for the Swedish botanist [[Veit Brecher Wittrock]] (1839–1914). A round flower of overlapping petals was the aim of some early experimenters; in the late 1830s a chance sport that no longer had narrow nectar guides of dark color on the petals but a broad dark blotch on the petals (which came to be called the "face"), was found. It was developed in Gambier's garden and released to the public in 1839 with the name "Medora".

By 1833, there were 400 named pansies available to gardeners who once considered its progenitor, heartsease, a weed. Specific guidelines were formulated for show pansies but amateur gardeners preferred the less demanding fancy pansies. About this time, James Grieve developed the viola and Dr. Charles Stuart developed the violetta, both smaller, more compact plants than the pansy.<ref>[[Sophia Orne Johnson|Johnson, Sophia Orne]]. ''Every woman her own flower gardener: A manual of flower gardening for ladies''. 7th ed. Pg 38–39. Ladies Floral Cabinet Co., 1885.</ref><ref>Farrar, Elizabeth. 2000. [http://www.americanvioletsociety.org/Species_N_Cultivars/Pansy.htm On the Subject of Pansies, Violas, and Violettas]. The American Violet Society.</ref><ref>[http://windyacres.net/our-products/pansy/ Pansy]. Windy Acres, Inc.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EFwjAQAAIAAJ&dq=lady+mary+bennett+pansies&pg=PA111 The Country gentleman's magazine]. Volume 7. 1871. Pg. 111–112</ref>

===Modern horticulture===
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Modern horticulturists have developed a wide range of pansy flower colors and bicolors including yellow, gold, orange, purple, violet, red, white, and even near-black (very dark purple). Pansies typically display large showy face markings. The Joker Series has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = November 2018 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 26 August 2019}}</ref>

[[File:CentreOrticoleDeRungis - Viola 3 by Line1.JPG|thumb|Pansies produced for the bedding market]]

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 [[Leaf|greenery]], and bears [[flower]]s and [[seed]]s 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. [[File:Viola × wittrockiana BW 2016-07-25 17-18-26.jpg|thumb|After flowering, a seed capsule matures, eventually opening as seen here.]]

Pansies are purchased as six-packs or "flats" (US) of young plants from [[garden center]]s and planted directly into the garden soil. Plants will grow up to {{convert|9|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}} in height with flowers measuring {{convert|2|to|3|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|0}} in diameter, though smaller and larger flowering [[cultivar]]s are available.

[[File:Trays of pansies - geograph.org.uk - 1087436.jpg|thumb|Pansies for sale in a British [[garden centre]]]]

Pansies are winter hardy in [[USDA plant hardiness zone|zones 4–8]]. They can survive light freezes and short periods of snow cover, but, in areas with prolonged snow cover, a covering of a dry winter mulch is recommended. In warmer climates, [[USDA zone]]s 9–11, pansies can bloom over the winter, and are often planted in the fall. In warmer zones, pansies may re-seed themselves and return the next year. They are not very heat-tolerant; warm temperatures inhibit blooming and hot muggy air causes rot and death. In colder zones, pansies may not survive without snow cover or protection (mulch) from extreme cold or periods of freezing and thawing. They perform best in zones with moderate temperatures, and equal amounts of mild rainfall and sunshine.

Pansies, for best growth, are watered thoroughly about once a week, depending on climate and rainfall. The plant should never be over-watered. To maximize blooming, plant foods are used about every other week, depending on the type of food used. Regular [[Deadheading (flowers)|deadheading]] can extend the blooming period.