[sclarke624]

I thought I bought winter flowering pansies but they are in full bloom now.  I am a bit confused about winter and summer Pansies.  They are different plants aren't they or am I mislead.

Also do they spring up again the following year?

Are they easy to grow from seed, I class busy lizzies as difficult asters fairly easy and marigolds as dead easy  ?

Thanks.

[mumofstig]

Pansies are pansies   some are hardier than others and get planted to grow through winter.
Some are sown in spring, but they will flower whenever conditions allow and often flower so much they die...........that's why they are short lived perennials.

If you prune them back a bit they, usually, have a rest and then start to grow again.

and yes they are easy from seed  

[New shoot]

Mums right - they are all the same thing.  Bedding growers use strains of Universal pansies and plant the same things autumn and spring. Some growers do label their autumn crop 'winter pansies' as a lot of older gardeners will specifically ask for these, but I think it just confuses matters.

You may be lucky and they might self seed.  Some bedding violas and the smaller flowered pansies do, but the great big flowered pansies don't tend to.  Weeding out volunteers from under bedding benches is one of my regular spring tasks at work 

[1st time veg grower]

My 'winter' pansies are also in full bloom now and are looking rather lovely! Surprised they survived all the snow and frosts and was thinking I'd have to buy some more, but no!

[sclarke624]

Thanks all I understand now.