Viola

Violets are among the first to enliven the garden in spring. These plants are widely known and valuable for their decorative qualities. In the design of flower beds and borders, use a tricolor violet (Viola tricolor) and a horned violet (Viola cornuta). In all types of violets, flowering begins in March and lasts until July. Only the tricolor violet continues to bloom until September. The genus includes about 400 perennial herbaceous species without peduncles, with a creeping rhizome. The leaves are regular, with notches along the edge of the plate, the shape of the leaves can be different: heart-shaped, kidney-shaped, oval in dark green tones. Flowers of various shapes appear on the stems or in the axils of the leaves, pleasing the eye with a variety of colors: from cream to yellow, from dark blue to intense purple and all shades of purple palette. The most popular are the tricolor violet with large flowers of various colors, Wittrock's violet, or pansies (V. x vittrockiana), and a very small sweet violet (V. odorata), ideal for rocky gardens.

Violets are among the first to enliven the garden in spring. These plants are widely known and valuable for their decorative qualities. In the design of flower beds and borders, use a tricolor violet (Viola tricolor) and a horned violet (Viola cornuta). In all types of violets, flowering begins in March and lasts until July. Only the tricolor violet continues to bloom until September.

The genus includes about 400 perennial herbaceous species without peduncles, with a creeping rhizome. The leaves are regular, with notches along the edge of the plate, the shape of the leaves can be different: heart-shaped, kidney-shaped, oval in dark green tones. Flowers of various shapes appear on the stems or in the axils of the leaves, pleasing the eye with a variety of colors: from cream to yellow, from dark blue to intense purple and all shades of purple palette. The most popular are the tricolor violet with large flowers of various colors, Wittrock's violet, or pansies (V. x vittrockiana), and a very small sweet violet (V. odorata), ideal for rocky gardens.

Cultivation

It easily tolerates the winter cold; the exception is species with double flowers (Parma violet), which are more sensitive to cold. When growing indoors and outdoors, plants are recommended to be renewed from time to time: they are finally planted at the planting site for several years. Preparing the soil, add a mixture of rotted manure with deciduous humus.

Location

It is light-loving, but tolerates shading and prefers loose, fertilized, light soil.

Temperature

It is quite resistant to low temperatures, it winters well under shelter.

Watering

In the hottest months, water abundantly so that the soil is constantly kept moist. Avoid stagnation of water.

Care

To ensure a lush bloom, it is important to constantly prune the plant, removing dry (leaves and stems) and damaged parts and wilted flowers.

Reproduction

Seeds are sown from June to August in boxes that are placed in a cool place. About a month after sowing, the seedlings are transplanted into a nursery (or a wooden box with humus) at a distance of about 10 cm from each other. Later (in a particularly mild climate - already in September-October), they can be planted permanently. If the climate is cool, it is recommended to wait until March-April. Violets can also be propagated by cutting or dividing the bush. It is best to do this from late spring to early summer. For cultivation, soil is usually used, which is a mixture of specially prepared peat with the addition of a certain amount (20-30%) of arable land. During growth, fertilizers are applied with great care, especially with the approach of cold weather.

Diseases

Violets are easily exposed to many diseases. Some of them cause root rot, others-the so-called violet rust: lesions appear on the reverse side of the leaf, first yellow, then brown. This can be avoided by avoiding excess moisture and treating with appropriate fungicides. On the eve of winter, the so-called powdery mildew of grapes may appear with the appearance of fluffy whitish spots on the leaves and stems. They get rid of it with the help of sulfur-based preparations. In addition, some pests cause great damage to the plant. Always make sure that you don't whether beetle and tick larvae have appeared.

Acquisition

Young potted plants can usually be found on sale without any problems. In addition, they get formed seedlings with a clod of earth, prepared for planting in a permanent place.

Kinds Tri-color violet It is widespread throughout Europe and predates the famous pansies. It has a branching stem and oval-lanceolate leaves. Flowers up to 4 cm in size come in various colors: from cream to yellow and from dark blue to intense purple. Abundant flowering lasts from May to September. From crossing this species with others with special characteristics, all the main hybrids grown today are obtained. Horned violet A species of horned violet native to the Pyrenees. The bush grows up to 30 cm. Oval leaves have serrated edges. Dark purple flowers are larger (2-3 cm diameter) than sweet violet flowers. In the period April-July, it blooms profusely. In the course of intensive breeding and hybridization work, numerous cultivars (cultivated varieties of plants) with flowers of various colors were obtained from this species. Garden violets Viola biflora In Northern Italy, it grows up to 20 cm. Flowers with a diameter of 1-2 cm, similar to the flowers of sweet violet, bloom from April to May, their color is yellow, with purple stripes. Viola calcarata It is very widespread, especially in the Alps and Apennines. Flowers-with transitions from purple to yellow; bloom from June to August. Viola odorata The very famous sweet violet comes from Western Europe and has spread to the Caucasus and Kurdistan. Rhizomatous species, propagated by stolons and reaches 15 cm in height. Heart-shaped leaves of intense green color. The diameter of the flowers is 1-2 cm. The flowering period falls in early spring: March-April.

Kinds

Tri-color violet

It is widespread throughout Europe and predates the famous pansies. It has a branching stem and oval-lanceolate leaves. Flowers up to 4 cm in size come in various colors: from cream to yellow and from dark blue to intense purple. Abundant flowering lasts from May to September.

From crossing this species with others with special characteristics, all the main hybrids grown today are obtained.

Horned violet

A species of horned violet native to the Pyrenees. The bush grows up to 30 cm. Oval leaves have serrated edges. Dark purple flowers are larger (2-3 cm diameter) than sweet violet flowers. In the period April-July, it blooms profusely. In the course of intensive breeding and hybridization work, numerous cultivars (cultivated varieties of plants) with flowers of various colors were obtained from this species.

Garden violets

Viola biflora

In Northern Italy, it grows up to 20 cm. Flowers with a diameter of 1-2 cm, similar to the flowers of sweet violet, bloom from April to May, their color is yellow, with purple stripes.

Viola calcarata

It is very widespread, especially in the Alps and Apennines. Flowers-with transitions from purple to yellow; bloom from June to August.

Viola odorata

The very famous sweet violet comes from Western Europe and has spread to the Caucasus and Kurdistan. Rhizomatous species, propagated by stolons and reaches 15 cm in height. Heart-shaped leaves of intense green color. The diameter of the flowers is 1-2 cm. The flowering period falls in early spring: March-April.