Pansies and violets have an appearance that is delicate to the extreme: their 5 artfully arranged petals look like guileless faces, and their short, compact plants are unassuming. It might surprise you to know, then, that violas are exceptionally tenacious flowers. They brave the cold long before many other flowers grow, and they'll tolerate a range of conditions (though they're partial to more temperate climates). If you dare to pluck them, they're also edible!