Viola PrimUp Felix Mandarin - Medium-flowered Pansy

Seductive and warm, the beautiful bicoloured flowers of the Viola wittrockiana Prim'Up Felix Mandarin come in two very rich shades. They are adorned with an almost orangey golden-yellow, which provides a magnificent contrast to a velvety, very deep, burgundy-red with intense silky highlights. Vigorous and flowering abundantly, it blooms in autumn and then again in late winter, reaching its peak between March and June. Easy to grow in humus-rich and moist soil, in sun or partial shade.

Garden pansies, sometimes called Swiss giant pansies, are actually hybrids grouped into the Viola x wittrockiana group. They belong to the Violaceae family and are most often grown as annuals or biennials, though they are actually a short-lived perennial. The variety 'Prim'Up Felix Mandarin' is a bushy plant that forms compact, slightly spreading clumps, 20 cm (7.9 in) tall and 20 to 30 cm (11.8 in) wide. It flowers from late winter to late spring, or from late spring to late summer. 'Felix Mandarin' pansies are large, open flowers, 6 cm (2.4 in) diameter, slightly fragrant, bicoloured and punctuated with a tiny bright yellow heart. On each flower, the two upper petals are burgundy-red, rising above three petals of a rich golden yellow. The medium green leaves are elliptical and broadly crenated.

In the garden, they are at their best in window boxes, on the windowsill, where you can have them right under your nose whilst keeping them sheltered from the cold. Try combining them with primroses, wallflowers, grape hyacinths, daisies... and even with grasses like Japanese sedge for a graphic, contemporary effect.

The petals of pansies are edible, their colours will bring a touch of originality to your salads and pastries. For this, think of growing them as you would grow your own vegetables, as naturally as possible.

Note: Please be aware that our young plant plugs are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant them as soon as possible, into pots, window boxes or directly into flower beds.