The trial of winter-flowering pansies (violas are excluded) currently under way at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley includes an amazing 254 different cultivars.
An initial lesson that I took from my time spent on RHS trials judging panel is that, in early winter at least, the small-flowered pansies, which are closer in style to violas, have been more impressive than those with larger flowers. Nine small flowers look far more colourful than two large ones.
This is why. First, the flowers of many pansies are so large that the petals simply do not have the strength to support themselves. The tops of the flowers hang over, the effect is lost.
Violas, on the other hand, produce such a constant succession of flowers, if one is damaged by the weather another soon opens. And, with alpine species in their ancestry, violas are simply tougher.
Seeing so many winter-flowering pansies together on dull winter days led me to another conclusion: dark colours make no impact. Crimson, deep purple and dark blue, especially if they feature black-blotched faces, never really stand out, but white, primrose, sky blue and pale pink sparkle on even the most overcast days.
In garden centres, or when ordering seed for next season from catalogues, names to look out for amongst violas include 'Sorbet' (24 colours and colour combinations, and probably the most prolific), 'Penny' (25 colours), 'Velour' (23 colours) and 'Angel' (33 colours).
Fav. comment Award !! Well done for choosing great Pics.