Larry's Perennial Violet Tour

rich soil. In the wild it often grows on sheep or goat pasture land.

Viola elatior
This violet is good by streamsides and in moist areas, often growing on wet shorelines and in fens all over Europe. In the garden it can become weedy though, and should probably be kept away from open waterways in ecologically sensitive areas.

Viola glabella
Revelstoke Violet
A bright yellow violet not grown much in gardens yet. This comes from the interior of British Columbia and grows all down the rocky mountains in shaded valleys. The dark pollen guide stripes cause the lower petal to look a bit puckered sometimes, and in B.C. they are sometimes called Fool's Pocketflower.

Viola gracilis
This hardy violet forms dense mats that will last a few years and re-seed in the garden in various colours. The yellow variety picture at left is most commonly available, but when allowed to populate an area naturally, many blue and purple selections can be made. It is easily grown in full sun or a bit of shade on ordinary garden soil.

Viola hirta
This violet is very showy in the spring, much more so that V. odorata. For this reason and because it is as tough as nails, it is better in most cases except for that it lacks the fragrance.

Viola labradorica
Labrador Violet
For a flower from Arctic North America, this one sure has gone a long way. This is a very popular garden plant all over England. It has lovely purple to blue flowers and deep green foliage that turns burgundy and purple in the cold. It's very tough, as can be guessed from it's origin, but still likes richs soil even if it is frozen for much of the year. The do very well here on the west coast, often being evergreen and forming thick dense mats, almost to the point of invasiveness.

Viola lutea
Yellow Violet
Lutea means yellow in latin, and this one is very yellow, although not nearly as some of the others, for example V. glabella. Viola lutea made out with Viola tricolor to create the common cultivated pansy of today. It likes partial shade and leafy soil with a loose texture. There is no point in trying to grow these in heavy soil where their roots can't get through. Add organic matter until it is light, then plant pansies.
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