Are pansies really perennials?

[Little tom]

Hello everyone!

I came back from holidays with a few dead flowers in my planters (oops, but I can't blame my friends' neglect at all I know it's been really hot)!
So now I plan for the autumn and winter.

I'd like to have as many hardy perennials as possible in my balcony planters because it breaks my heart to pull annuals out after the season's gone, and because I'd rather keep flower maintenance to a minimum.

If I sow pansies can I count on them for a few years (the types I want to have are labelled 'hardy perennials')?
I'm asking because some packets say 'half hardy annuals/hardy perennials' and most of the time, if I look at neighbours' windows, their pansies seem to be used as annuals and discarded after one season.

Any advice would help me choose so thanks in advance!

[Little tom]

Well well...Not an inspiring topic I see :-)
I asked around. Pansies can be perennials but are often used as annuals because they get leggy after the first year, and may die if too hot anyway.
I'll leave it at that!

[aaronstone911]

Generally they are annuals. However there is a new strain called "Icicle pansies" that do overwinter. I have some in my garden right now. I enjoyed their fall bloom. ( actually even got them at a reduced price at the end of last season but still had a few weeks of colour.) Now they are blooming their little heads off and have been doing it for almost a month I think.