CyberSalad: Garden Pursuits: Perennials: Viola

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Viola

The genus Viola includes V. wittrockiana (pansy), V. tricolor (Johnny-jump-up), V. cornuta (viola), and V. odorata (sweet violet) among many others. Beloved for their showy cool-season flowers, all members of the genus Viola are synonymous with the word "spring"--but they provide terrific color for fall too. Pansies, with their huge blossoms frequently marked in striking, contrasting colors, are a favorite hardy annual bedding plant for color in the cool of spring and fall (even winter in Zones 6 and south). Very easy to grow, they can be planted out in fall in the South, to winter over, or in the earliest spring in the North. Violas are smaller-flowered, and are ususally hardier, bearing lots of blooms right through frosts. Violets are the hardiest of all, and usually the smallest-flowered--a long-lived perennial in Zones 4-8. All three are best in sun or light shade and cool climates.
Set plants 8 inches apart. Propagate sweet violets by clump division. Pansies are easily grown from seeds in Zones 3-8; sow the seeds outdoors in midsummer in light shade, then transplant them in the garden in fall or in a sunny reserve garden until the following spring. Protect the evergreen leaves over winter in Zones 3-6 with a mulch of salt hay or straw. In Zones 9 and 10 sow pansy seeds in late summer; the plants will grow through the fall and blossom during winter and spring.

	Pansy. There are more than 250 cultivars of pansies. Most of the cultivars are part of a series. A series consists of several cultivars that vary in color but share qualities such as hardiness, form, markings and so on. ‘Majestic Giant’ series has a free-flowering habit and stands up to heat and cold particularly well. The flowers are 3 to 4 inches across, all with faces. ‘Medallion’ series pansies have extra large flowers. All have faces. ‘Imperial’ series is prized for its non-fading colors and vigorous growth. Most of the blooms are 2 to 3 inches wide and faced. ‘Imperial Blue’ and ‘Imperial Pink Shades’ are especially nice. 'Jolly Joker’ is a velvety purple with orange face. The plant has a compact habit and may grow 8 inches wide. ‘Crystal Bowl’ series pansies are small, clear-colored flowers. They are very free-flowering. The compact plants do not sprawl in the garden. ‘Maxim’ series has small, faced flowers that bloom prolifically on compact plants. ‘Maxim Marina’ is light blue with a dark blue face that is outlined in white. ‘Maxims’ have good heat and cold tolerance. ‘Padparadja’ is a rare brilliant orange. The blooms do not fade under heat stress. ‘Universal’ series pansies have masses of early-blooming flowers that may be clear colors or faced. The plants have proven to be very cold-and heat-tolerant. ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ flowers open white, and then gradually turn light blue, then darker. Blooms early and uniformly. Tolerates both heat and cold. ‘Rococo’ is an unusual strain with distinctly ruffled large blossoms. Very free-flowering and hardy. ‘Antique Shades’ is a mix of unique colors from apricot to rose. Silky blooms are 3 inches across. Heat tolerant.
	Viola. Viola flowers are much smaller than pansies, and plants are perennials. They flower heavily and are more heat-resistant than pansies, and often self-seed. 'Princess Series' is early to bloom and is perfect for Fall or Spring planting. Plants produce velvety, 1-in. (2-cm) flowers from Spring to early Summer, and then again as the weather cools in the Fall. The bushy and compact plants reach 6 in. (15 cm) tall and spread to 10 in. (25 cm). ‘Arkwright Ruby’ produces dark wine-red flowers with a golden eye and a golden edge in fall to spring. ‘Chantreyland’ produces large apricot flowers in fall to spring. ‘White Perfection’ has large white flowers that appear in fall to spring. ‘Sorbet’ series includes ‘Lemon Chiffon’, ‘Blueberry Cream,’ ‘Yellow Frost,’ ‘Blackberry Cream’ and ‘Purple Duet’. These are all very prolific, blooming in soft pastels. They reach about 10 inches tall.
	Johnny-jump-up. Gorgeous, miniature, pansy-like flowers in a combination of lavender, violet, and canary yellow. Johnny-jump-ups are ideal for planting around bulbs and larger flowers. ‘Helen Mount’ has prolific tiny flowers of purple, lavender, and yellow, and is the traditional Johnny Jump-up. Perennial.

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Site launched January 1, 2000.
Site updated September 1, 2007.