Pale blue petals highlight the dark blotch surrounded by a white eye on these amazingly hardy annuals. Like other violas and pansies, they flower best in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. However, unlike most cultivars, Marina, if planted in early fall will survive most Chicago winters and burst into flower in early spring with many more blooms than if it were planted directly from a greenhouse. Interplant between tulips and other spring flowering bulbs in fall for a spectacular spring display. The plants bulk up into tidy mounds before the worst of Chicago weather hits in January and February. The well established root system allows the plants to produce an abundance of flowers as soon as temperatures start to warm.