Violets

Plant family

Violet family (Violaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Seeding distance

20 cm

Row spacing

20 cm

Seeding depth

0Not specified

Instructions

Description

The genus Violets or Violas belongs to the family of violets (Violaceae). There are 400-650 species. Pansies, horned violets and scented violets are popular species. Violets are annuals to perennials, and are suitable as ground covers and group plants for flower beds. They grow to about 10 inches tall. Their flowers come in colors ranging from yellow to red, purple and blue, and rarely whitish, brownish or black. They are grown as an ornamental, medicinal and culinary plant, and also for cosmetic purposes.

Growing tips

Cut off after flowering in the fall. The soil should never dry out. Often self-propagate by self-seeding or insects. Otherwise by seed or cuttings. Sow in spring or fall on a mild, frost-free day. Cold germinators. Winter hardy. Sowing time depends on variety. Good planting partners are white Christmas roses, ornamental sedges or bulbous flowers, evergreens, ferns, liverworts, foamworts, funcias, lily of the valley, astilbes, bellflowers, lungworts, deadnettles, crocuses, snowdrops and winter bulbs.