For more articles by Larry Gnome, Please see the Perennial Article Index.
"Heartsease
Wild Pansy
Johnny Jump Up
Love-in-idleness
Pink of my John
Call them what you will, they're all violets to me" - ANON -
Or perhaps this quote from Shakespeare's "King John" is better known...
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to
garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
Once you get past plain old pansies there is a world of violets waiting to be discovered. Here I have listed some of my favourite violets, explained what makes them so great, and have tried to add a few notes on growing them.
About Violas
There are about 500 species of Viola. Most are perennials and biennials, and there are a few annual types. Viola flowers come in many colours and are typically marked with nectar guides for pollinating insects. These guides are visible to us in the form of spots, lines or blotches, often suggesting a human face, and the flower of a pansy is often called a face. To insects these look much different, and I doubt they see a face at all.
Growing Violas
Most of the violas prefer part to light shade, but some will take deep shade and these are noted. Soil high in organic matter is preferred, and in areas where water retention is not good, a simple leafy mulch will help retain soil moisture. Many are very short-lived as perennials but self-sow readily.
Propagation
Cuttings
Cuttings should be nodal, meaning that they will root out of nodes rather than anywhere along the stem. Cuttings should be taken and rooted in the fall.
Rooted Runners
Violas can often be divided up and rooted runners and stems will be found around the plant. Violas don't require division in most cases, although thick clumps of very hardy violets in pots sometimes suffer over-crowding.
Seeds
Seeds should be planted in spring or fall, and if you allow your violets to self-seed you will find most of the seedlings appear in the spring, directly around the original plants. The seed germinates in 10 to 14 days at temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Farenheit. During cooler times of the year viola seed will still sprout but will just take a bit longer. No matter when you decide to start your seeds, cover them with a light layer of soil to exclude light. Seedlings are often killed by too much sun so be sure to provide a shaded place for your new baby violas.
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