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The stuff of legend and lore, there's room in every garden for
a least a few members of the Viola genus. Their distinctive,
rounded five -- petaled flowers, many with markings that form
"faces," have charmed gardeners for centuries.
And since they tolerate cold
so well -- a little ice doesn't bother them -- they're a welcome
sign of spring in colder regions, perfect for filling pots and
windowboxes as soon as the snow melts.
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana)
are the best-known member fo the genus; they're cool-season annuals
grown in spring in cool climates and in winter in warm climates.
They grow up to several inches tall.
Their diminutive close cousins
are the violas, downscale versions that grow just inches tall.
They include the classic Johnny-jump-up, a purple, cream, and
yellow viola that reseeds prolifically, hence its name.
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