Pansy Field

[Liliane Hubright]

Fieldpansy (Viola rafinesquii) is a winter annual that can germinate in either the fall or spring, and is sometimes called "Johnny-jump-up" because of its rapid spring development. The leaves of field pansy are mostly smooth and without hairs. The leaf margins have small notches that become more easily detectable as the plant matures (Figure 1). The leaves are mostly round or oval, but become more narrow and linear up the flowering stem (Figure 2). Another distinguishing feature is the presence of stipules that can be as much as 1-inch in length, which occur along the flowering stem where the leaf bases join the stem. Field pansy has attractive pale yellow to purple flowers which consist of 5 petals and 5 sepals. The petals are most often blue to purple, often with dark purple lines within and in the "throat" of the flower, the colors fade from blue or purple to white or sometimes yellow (Figures 3 and 4). The sepals are much smaller in size and inconspicuous when compared to the petals, but are light green in color and hairless. Field pansy will usually only reach 5 or 6 inches in height when fully mature but can form mats throughout no-till crop production fields where dense infestations exist.

Field pansy has received more attention in recent years because it is one species that is not controlled well by "standard" burndown applications of glyphosate in the spring. Even burndown applications of glyphosate plus 2,4-D have not provided acceptable levels of field pansy control in many no-till corn and soybean fields. Weed scientists at Kansas State University have conducted some research on the control of this species in recent years. Their research, along with other work done on the control of this species, has shown that fall applications, especially fall applications of herbicides with residual activity, should provide good control of field pansy. Research has also shown that even a single glyphosate application in the fall will provide better control of this species than the same amount of glyphosate applied in the spring.

If fall applications are not made and this weed is present in the spring, the addition of dicamba (Banvel, Clarity, Distinct) to a glyphosate burndown should provide much better control of field pansy than standard burndown applications of glyphosate plus 2,4-D, although a longer replant interval will be required when dicamba has been applied. Some researchers have found that even as little as 2 fluid ounces of Clarity plus glyphosate plus 2, 4-D will enhance field pansy control dramatically. Another option other than adding dicamba to the burndown is to add a preplant herbicide to the glyphosate plus 2, 4-D, one that has both contact and residual activity on field pansy. In corn, products that we know will enhance the burndown and residual control of field pansy include atrazine, Balance, and any Callisto-containing product (Lumax, Lexar, etc.). In soybean, products that contain FirstRate (Authority First, Sonic, Gangster) and Harmony GT (Basis, Envive, Resolve Q, etc.) will also enhance the burndown and residual control of field pansy compared to applications of glyphosate plus 2, 4-D alone.

Field Pansies are annual to perennial flowers (depending on winter temperatures) in the Violaceae family. Although their origin is Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, they have become introduced and naturalized in the United States. They have showy two-toned fragrant flowers that appear from April to June. If blooming slows with warm summer weather prune back to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

In their natural habitat, they can be found growing in dry open grounds along roadsides, beaches, old fields, meadows and bluffs. They prefer humusy, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

If they are perennial in your area, plant them in naturalized areas or containers to keep them from spreading too much in a perennial garden. If they are annuals use them in bedding, window boxes, and containers. In the wild, they can be found growing in fields, wastelands, meadows, and rocky outcrops in dry, sandy soil.

A relative of the pansy, field pansies are easily distinguished. They are smaller than the pansy, less than 1" in diameter. The plant size is also smaller, however, they make up for their small size by producing more blooms than the pansy.

Young leaves develop from a basal rosette. They are rounded to oval with a shallowly toothed margin. When leaves mature they are long and narrow with round-toothed margins. Hairy veins appear on the underside of the leaf. The roots have a wintergreen scent when crushed.

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to fungal leaf diseases. Watch for aphids, slugs and snails. This plant is frequently damaged by deer. It may hybridize with other viola species in your garden. Read about the native viola listed to the left.

Viola arvensis is a species of violet known by the common name field pansy. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species and a weed of disturbed and cultivated areas.

Viola arvensis was shown to contain cyclotides, a class of peptides found in plants. The peptide cycloviolacin O2 in particular has shown to possess cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells and is therefore looked at as a potential drug lead.[1]

It is an herbaceous annual plant with serrated leaves, and usually flowers with white all over, except the bottom petal (Although there are actually flowers with a tinge of purple at the top) and dehiscent capsules. It reproduces by seed. It grows 20 centimeters tall.

Field pansy is a native annual plant in the violet family found throughout much of North America and is a winter annual weed. It forms colonies in fields, along roadsides and other disturbed sites such as prairies, pastures, and other waste areas. It is most abundant in sandy soils. It prefers full sun in moist sandy soil but adapts to other soils and part shade. Although considered weedy, this little plant attracts wildlife and is an early spring nectar source for bees. It tolerates light foot traffic and can be used as a lawn alternative.

The flower is solitary, rising from the leaf axils on the stalks. It has 5 dark veined petals, with the lateral petals bearded and the lower one will have a yellow patch at its base. The petals are typically pale blue, however can also be white with a slight blue tint.

Field pansy can be planted in home landscapes, however, ir has a weedy nature making it a poor choice or the perennial garden. Best planted in large areas such as a meadow where it is free to spread.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. NC State Extension has a publication on the control of Field pansy as a weed of turfgrass.

Occurs in glades, disturbed margins of loess hill prairies, ledges and tops of bluffs, savannas, openings of bottomland and upland forests, and banks of streams, rivers, and spring branches; also in old fields, pastures, fallow fields, margins of crop fields, gardens, lawns, railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas. This is not our largest violet, but it's one of the most common and widespread.

Apparently a native of Missouri and North America. In the past, many researchers thought this species had been introduced to our continent from the Old World many years ago. It has many similarities to nonnative/Eurasian violet species.

For a long time, botanists have investigated this plant's relationship to the other violets in North America. As their understandings have changed, so has the scientific name. Thus in other references you may find it referred to as Viola rafinesquii and Viola kitaibeliana var. rafinesquii.

Often, when we picture herbivores, we think of large animals like cattle or deer, and even mice. But a multitude of insects also eat plants, including this and other violets. Violets, for example, are the special food plants of fritillary butterfly caterpillars.

The common field pansy produces fruit in the shape of a triangular pyramid filled with seeds. Each plant produces some 2,500 seeds every year that can germinate at any time in mild climates. The fruit explodes the seeds into the air when it is mature. The seeds are also spread by ants. They grow easily in disturbed wet areas and pastures.

Those intent on field pansy control have found that certain chemicals are helpful. Consult with your local extension service agent or garden center for instructions and safe use of chemicals if you choose to use them on field pansies.

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Field pansy flowers and leaves closely resemble those of the garden flower Johnny-jump-ups. Flowers are cream to blue, often with both colors mixed in varying patterns within the flower. Flowers have five petals, with the lowest petal having a cup-like projection extending to the back of the flower. Leaf shape varies, with the lowest leaves being rounded, and upper leaves being narrower at the base than at the tip of the leaf. At the base of each leaf, smaller, highly divided sets of leaf-like stipules are found.

Field pansy is a winter annual weed. This means that it is one of a class of plants that germinates in the late summer or fall, overwinters as a seedling or small plant, and then continues growth in the spring. Winter annuals cannot withstand hot weather, and generally set seed and die as summer weather begins. Winter annuals are problem weeds for strawberry growers for several reasons. First, the lack of fall or spring tillage in strawberries means that the growth of winter annuals is not disturbed. Second, winter mulch provides protection for these weeds, and increases winter survival. And third, renovation does not affect winter annual weeds, as they have usually produced seed and died by the time renovation is performed. Renovation does disturb summer annual weeds (weeds which germinate in the spring and die in the fall), so winter annual weeds tend to become dominant in strawberries.

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