The Viola plants that we grown then garden and in containers are either Viola odorata or Viola cornuta cultivars.
The plants we see for sale are mainly Viola cornuta, more colourful that V.odorata
Although Violas and Pansies are related, they are different in a number of respects. Viola flowers are smaller, and they do not have the ‘faces’ of their relatives.
These are a winter flowering plant and in Australia you can plant them as soon as the weather cools down a little.
They look great in hanging baskets, use them beneath roses that are bare this time of the year, or mass plant them in the border. Perhaps fill an old wheelbarrow with them, or any container you can find.
Although the flowers are small, they are colourful and numerous. From white through to yellows and deep purple (almost black) you can use them as fillers anywhere in the garden where they get good winter sun.
Grow them from seedlings, or sow seeds from late summer to early in autumn and plant them out when they reach a good size. Seeds may take 2 – 3 weeks to germinate, and a little darkness will help.
Viola Varieties
A few named varieties have stood the test of time and are worth seeking out
- V. cornuta ‘Boughton Blue’ an icy blue flower
- V. cornuta ‘King Henry’ purple flowers with a yellow throat
- V. cornuta ‘White Perfection’, white flowers as the name suggests.
- V. odorata flowers and plants or Sweet Violet is an old fashioned garden plant. Growing to 50cm and preferring a moist humus rich soil in dappled shade.
- V. dissecta is well worth looking for as well.
- V. labridorica – The Purple perennial violet.
Viola are available for sale online from the following growers
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au
www.planterspatch.com.au
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au
'Umbango' 750 Humula Rd, Humula NSW 2652
Phone 0408692773 Great Range of Perennial plants available for sale by mail order.
www.nutshellnursery.com.au
470 Monbulk-Silvan Road Monbulk VIC 3793
"Guaranteed mail order flowering bulbs, perennials, roses, trees, landscaping plants, garden accessories and community fundraising Austra lia-wide."
www.gardenexpress.com.au