Violet, a superb colored flower

Field of violets in full bloom

Violet is a very cute flower that flowers in fall and winter or spring depending on the variety.

A summary of key Violet facts

NameViola
FamilyViolaceae
Type – perennial

Height – 3 to 6 inches (10 to 20 cm)
Exposure – full sun
Soil – ordinary

Foliage – evergreen
Flowering – Fall to spring depending on the variety

Proper planting and care will help you produce nice flowers.

Planting violet

Make the most of the winter blooming of this cute little flower to garner your garden boxes and flower beds and edges with violet.

Planting violet

Planting of violet purchased in pots or containers is best performed during the entire fall, and even up to the beginning of spring.

Provide soil that is quite rich and well drained for beautiful blooming. But ordinary garden soil is fine, too.

Sowing violet

When sowing violet from seed, sow in a nursery from June-July onwards, up until September.

  • Broadcast seeds in special seedling soil mix and cover the seeds lightly.
  • Drizzle water over lightly on a regular basis to keep the substrate moist.
  • Put the seedlings near light, but not in direct sunlight.
  • As soon as it sprouts, thin to 1¼ to 1½ inches (3 to 4 cm), removing the least vigorous plants.

It is highly recommended to transplant first to a nursery pot after 4 to 5 weeks, and then again to the ground in the following fall or spring.

  • Upon planting, keep a distance of about 6 inches (15 cm) between each violet.

Caring for violet

Violet only requires little care, perhaps only a bit of watering if the soil dries up.

You can remove wilted flowers regularly (deadheading) to trigger appearance of new buds.

For violets grown in pots, containers or garden boxes, organize a more regular watering so that the soil mix never stays dry for too long.

If the weather gets really hot in your area, high 80s F or more for weeks on end (30+ °C), a better place for your violets would be partial shade.

Diseases and pests that might hurt your violets

A disease that will dot your violet leaves with black spots is Septoria.

If the weather is rainy and humid, you’re likely to notice snails and slugs eating a few leaves. If they have a choice, they’ll prefer other more tender plants.

  • In case of an invasion or if no other plants are there for them to feed on, however, you’ll have to protect your violets from the snails.

All there is to know about violet

Violet flower, three colorsA very cute winter or spring blooming perennial, it will embellish your flower beds, garden boxes or pot arrangements until spring arrives.

Indeed, some varieties bloom in winter, and others bloom in spring and sometimes even later.

“Horned violet” looks almost exactly like pansy. They actually belong to the same family, but the violet is much more hardy than the pansy is.

The petals is how you can distinguish pansies from violets.

  • Violets number 2 petals facing upwards, and three facing downwards.
  • Pansies have 4 petals facing upwards and only one facing down.

Since violet is particularly hardy, it will resist winder colds very well, even down to 5°F (-15°C).

You’ll be blessed to have flowers blooming all winter long for some varieties, over a relatively lengthy period.

Smart tip about violet

The violet that blooms in spring is perfect paired with tulips which also bloom at the same time!

It is often arranged together with primroses, tulips and forget-me-nots.

White and purple ground cover violets.


Credits for images shared to Nature & Garden (all edits by Gaspard Lorthiois):
Violets in the wild by Marjatta Caján ★ under Pixabay license
Three-colored violet by Merja Partanen ★ under Pixabay license
Delicate designs on violet petals by Shokochan ☆ under Pixabay license