The plant attracts the attention of flower lovers with its early flowering, exquisite bud shape and delicate delicate aroma. In addition, biologists count many different varieties of viola that can be easily grown in a summer cottage. This flower is no less attractive in the wild. It is found almost everywhere, both in Europe and in Asian countries:
- on forest edges;
- along roads;
- on spacious meadows;
- on mountain slopes;
- in the tropics;
- in the steppe zone;
- in vegetable gardens;
- in city parks.
Having appreciated the beauty of the violet, botanists tried to turn it into a garden plant. Thus, already in the 16th century, new varieties of viola began to appear, and at the time of Charles Darwin’s research there were more than 400 names. Nowadays, the work continues, and the flower continues to attract new fans.
In Russia, viola is known as “Pansy”. The flower received this popular name in accordance with the legend about a faithful girl who waited a long time for her friend.
general information
You may know viola as pansy. Even in the monasteries, these unpretentious, but very beautiful and graceful flowers were cultivated. And over time, breeders got down to business and developed many spectacular garden forms.
Viola has dark, serrated leaves, most often heart-shaped. They are quite large and assembled into a rosette. The flowers can be very small, about 2 cm, but they can also be quite impressive - up to 10 cm in diameter. They are always asymmetrical because the three petals point upward.
Photo: moydom.moscow
Botanical description
Viola belongs to the violet family. It is grown as annual, biennial and perennial shrubs. This herbaceous plant reaches a height of up to 30 m.
The leaves have small stipules. The shape of the leaf blade can be varied: dissected, pinnate, simple. The leaves can be arranged singly or form a basal rosette.
The flowers are solitary, formed in the axils of the leaves on a long peduncle. In the lower part the petals are larger due to slight thickening. The shape of the flowers is varied: simple, semi-double or double. The color can be two or three colors, with small inclusions and single spots.
The plant blooms very profusely. The beginning of flowering depends on the time of planting the flower. It usually begins at the end of March and lasts until the first frost.
After the flowering period, fruit boxes filled with small seeds ripen on the viola. Seed germination is very high. It can last for two years.
Types of viola
Even before the artificial breeding of decorative varieties, dozens of varieties of viola already existed in nature. And no wonder, because it is found all over the world!
Viola Wittrock
By far the most popular variety of viola, and it is also a hybrid of several species with a tricolor violet. In fact, it was this flower that was originally nicknamed pansies for its characteristic colors. There are dwarf, giant and ampelous varieties.
Photo: versal-sad.ru
Fragrant viola
The most fragrant variety is most reminiscent of classic violets in blue and purple shades. Fragrant viola is a star in perfumery, cosmetology and folk medicine.
Photo: fragrantica.ru
Viola Williams
Another hybrid, but based on the Wittrock viola itself. The height of the bushes reaches 30 cm, and the diameter of the flowers is up to 4 cm. The colors are bright and variegated, but without the characteristic eye spots.
Photo: bloomingarden.ru
Horned viola
This is a perennial species with a characteristic growth near the bud, which gives rise to its unusual name. The bushes grow up to 25 cm and are densely covered with flowers 5 cm in diameter.
Photo: agbina.ru
Moth viola
It is also called Sororia, and is a small primrose up to 20 cm in height. With proper care at the end of summer, the butterfly viola can bloom again.
Photo: prolisok.com.ua
spotted viola
In addition to one- and two-color varieties, there are spectacular variegated forms. Terry varieties and varieties with corrugated petals are especially good.
Photo: fotoload.ru
Pushkinia (60 photos): types, planting and care in open ground
Fragrant viola or fragrant violet (Viola odorata)
Viola fragrant is a perennial plant whose flowers have a pleasant aroma. Due to this, fragrant violet extract is used to create perfumes and cosmetic products. Viola odorata is also cultivated as an ornamental plant. However, acquired varieties, after several years of cultivation, often run wild.
Fragrant violet has not only a decorative appearance, but also a wonderful aroma
The leaves of the fragrant violet are round, with a serrated edge. Flowers, up to 2 cm in diameter, are located on long thin stems. Species forms are painted in purple, blue, and white tones. Cultivars can be red, yellow, purple, pink.
The fragrant violet blooms in April and early May. A second wave of flowering is possible - at the end of summer.
The size of the fragrant viola bush is almost dwarf - up to 15 cm. But, if you plant several specimens together, you will get a wonderful lush and dense cushion. Due to its decorative properties, fragrant viola is grown in pots on balconies, flower beds, flower beds and borders, in mixborders and on alpine slides.
The following varieties of fragrant violets are very popular in culture:
- Coeur d'Alsace – pink (salmon) flowers, very fragrant;
- Alba - pure white simple flowers, with a delicate aroma;
- Ashvale Blue - large white double flowers with blue spots on the edges of the petals;
- Marie Louise - blue double flowers with a white center, very fragrant;
- Lydia Groves – single large pink flowers, sweet scent;
- La France – flowers are large, purple, simple in structure;
- Orchid Pink has simple pink-purple flowers with pale blue stripes in the center.
Viola care
Caring for a viola is quite simple if you initially maintain a balance in everything. Moderate watering, moderate lighting and moderate fertilizing are what you need!
Temperature
Viola is a heat-loving plant that prefers temperatures of about 15-20 degrees. Short-term rapid changes have almost no effect on the flower, but prolonged drought or frost can be destructive.
Photo: funart.pro
Lighting
Light partial shade is best for viola. Excess sun causes burns and leads to a decline in flowering. And due to its lack, the buds become small and open weakly.
Photo: mykaleidoscope.ru
Watering
Young bushes and seedlings need to be constantly moistened, but at the same time avoiding stagnation of water. Adult bushes are watered only when the soil dries out. Spraying is not necessary for viola, and the above-ground part of the plant should not be wetted at all.
Photo: prorastet.ru
The soil
When planting seedlings, we recommend using ready-made soil mixture for violets. It can also be added to garden soil when preparing the site. Add fertilizer to poor soil in advance.
Photo: cvetkoffandbuketoff.ru
Fertilizers and fertilizing
Viola is fed throughout the season every 2-3 weeks. Use mineral fertilizers for flowering plants, for violets and saintpaulias, or simply mixtures based on potassium and phosphates.
Photo: sadogorod25.ru
Pinching and trimming
To keep the viola bushes neat and even, they can be pinched as they grow. Trim shoots that are too tall into cuttings and to stimulate branching. But you shouldn’t pick off flowers either during or after flowering.
Photo: yandex.ru
Wintering
Frost-resistant varieties of viola tolerate winter directly in the ground, but always under cover of leaves or spruce branches. Before doing this, stop watering and fertilizing in advance, and then cut off the ground part.
Photo: centr-sadovoda.ru
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Landing place
Growing viola is not difficult. The flower prefers open areas that do not interfere with abundant light. At the same time, it is better to protect the plant from direct sunlight. The abundance of light has a negative effect on flowering. The buds bloom larger, but wither earlier.
Excessive shading will cause the flowers to become smaller in size and paler in color. The period and duration of flowering of a plant depend not only on the conditions created, but also on the variety used and the time of planting.
Planting and propagation of viola
In the garden, viola reproduces excellently by self-sowing, but if you need a certain shape of a flower bed, and not a flower carpet, this is not very convenient. When planting seeds in open ground in the first year, the viola only takes root, and will bloom in the second.
To speed up the process, plant the seedlings in February, slightly burying the seeds in loose soil. They germinate under the film, and in just 3 weeks they can be picked. The seedlings are transplanted into open ground in May, and by summer they will take root and bloom.
Healthy cuttings with 2-3 nodes can be rooted in May directly in the ground, but strictly in the shade. Monitor the humidity and, if necessary, build a greenhouse from a jar. In a couple of weeks, such a cutting will take root and bloom by summer.
Photo: forum-flower.ru
Growing viola from seeds
In practice, two methods are used to grow violets from seeds: sowing the seeds directly into open ground or pre-growing seedlings. The latter method is considered more effective, because using it you can get flowering plants this year.
When to plant viola seedlings
To obtain high-quality planting material, seedlings should be sown from the last ten days of February or March. It is not advisable to carry out such activities after mid-spring, because seeds are sown in open ground in the last ten days of April or early May.
Sowing viola for seedlings
Pre-prepared and calibrated grains can be sown in any container, for example, plastic cups, cassettes, cut plastic bottles or food packaging. To prepare the nutrient mixture, components such as garden soil, humus and peat are used. All components are taken in equal proportions and mixed thoroughly.
When using the traditional sowing method, shallow furrows are made in the nutrient substrate using a pencil, approximately 3-5 millimeters, the distance between rows is about 1 centimeter. Next, the grains are placed in the depressions made every 2 centimeters and sprinkled with soil. Now you need to water the crops with water and cover the container with a transparent film. After this, the containers are placed in a warm room with a temperature of 20 - 25 degrees.
To prevent the appearance of mold in the soil, plantings must be ventilated at least twice a day.
Seedling care
The first sprouts of pansies usually appear 7-10 days after sowing. A later period of seed hatching occurs in the following cases:
- use of old planting material;
- in case of filling seeds with a thick layer of soil;
- when using a nutrient substrate of incorrect composition, for example, clay soil.
After germination, the plants should be placed on a well-lit windowsill. In the spring, pansies are not afraid of direct rays of the sun, so containers with seedlings can be placed even in the southern part of the apartment. After germination, the violet has fairly strong stems, but this does not mean that you need to immediately remove the film from the container. In the first days, the plants are ventilated at intervals of 2 times a day for 20-30 minutes. In the future, the duration of ventilation is increased, but the shelter is removed only after a week.
Garden violet has certain indicators of frost resistance. Its seedlings can withstand temperatures down to -10 degrees, and this applies to young shoots. In the presence of stable warm weather, strengthened seedlings must be taken out to the balcony or open air.
Viola needs good watering, but the soil must be moistened as the top layer dries out. For such events, it is worth using rain or melt water. It is advisable to leave ordinary tap liquid for 2-3 days. Plants are afraid of waterlogging, because a high concentration of water in the soil can cause rotting of the flower roots.
Viola pick
It is necessary to transplant young plants into new containers when the first two true leaves form. Pansies are not afraid of transplantation; they take root in the new nutrient substrate even with minor damage to the root system, which sometimes happens when the plant is removed from the container. Such violas are slightly slower in development, but this does not affect the overall performance.
If there is insufficient lighting or cramped space on the windowsill, violet seedlings may stretch out. To get a high-quality healthy flower, such crops, when planted in a new container, are buried down to the cotyledons, which will make it possible to obtain additional roots on the underground part of the stem.
Young violas develop quickly after picking; within a month they are ready to be transplanted to a permanent place in open ground.
Pinching
An event such as pinching the stem allows you to achieve better tillering of the crop. Similar events are held after the appearance of 5-6 true leaves.
When to plant viola seedlings
Planting garden violets in a permanent place depends on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. Similar actions should be carried out upon the onset of stable warm weather in the last ten days of April or early May. To plant a flower, select an area well lit by the sun.
After digging the soil, crushed charcoal of medium fraction 200 grams and the same amount of humus are added to each planting hole. Viola develops well in soils consisting of peat, humus and turf soil in equal proportions with the addition of half of the sand.
It is not recommended to plant the flower in low-lying areas where there is a risk of moisture stagnation.
How to plant viola seedlings
During transplantation to a permanent place, prepared seedlings are placed on the site every 15-20 centimeters. The crops are buried in pre-dug holes and covered with soil. Next, compact the soil around the bushes and water the plants with warm water. When growing garden violets, it is necessary to divide the bushes in the plantings every three years. If such events are not carried out, the crop will grow rapidly, and its flowers will become small and lose their decorative value. To quickly propagate a flower, the cutting method is used.
Pest and disease control
Natural types of viola have excellent immunity, but garden forms often suffer from fungus. The most dangerous problems are blackleg and root rot, which occur in both seedlings and adult plants. The affected flowers will simply have to be destroyed, and then dry the soil and sprinkle it with coal or ash.
Spotting, rust and powdery mildew are less common. They are easily recognized by spots and plaque of different colors and shapes. And you can still fight this fungus! Remove diseased leaves and shoots and treat the flowerbed with fungicides.
Viola is very fond of spider mites and aphids, which drink the vital juices of the plant. In small quantities, a soap solution helps, but in larger quantities, insecticides are already needed. It's the same with slugs, just first collect all the pests you notice by hand.
Photo: pixnio.com
Clarkia (50 photos): types, care and planting in open ground
Care and cultivation of violets Pansies in open ground
Although viola does not require care, it cannot be left completely unattended. It needs watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding. For better flowering, the viola should be planted in a lighted area of the garden, but the plant should be in the shade for several hours a day. Then the flower is not in danger of drying out at high temperatures.
Watering
The viola needs to be watered every day. Especially during flowering and in hot weather, the plant needs to be watered heavily. However, excessive moisture can cause root rot and plant death. Watering should be done moderately.
Viola loves water very much
Top dressing
In order for the plant to please its owners with flowers longer, it needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers. Depending on the fertility of the soil, fertilizers are applied to the soil 1-2 times a month. For feeding, take 30 g of superphosphate or saltpeter per 1 square meter. m. The plant should not be fertilized with organic matter, especially with fresh mullein.
Weeding
Weeds should be constantly pulled out. They compete with violets in the fight for lighting, nutrition and moisture.
To increase the flowering period, the gardener needs to remove wilted flowers.
Loosening
Loosening the soil saturates the soil with oxygen.
Pansies love regular loosening.
Pest protection
The main cause of powdery mildew is excessive nitrogen application or lack of moisture. For treatment, the viola is watered with a solution of soda ash with the addition of laundry soap . A solution of Fundazol will also help against powdery mildew . They will also help in the fight against gray rot and blackleg.
Fungicide Fundazol and instructions for use
Viola – photo
A blooming viola carpet looks very fantasy. And all thanks to the unusual colors of modern decorative varieties!
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Problems during cultivation
Violet, like many plants, is susceptible to various diseases and pest attacks. The table below shows the most common ones.
| Disease/pest | Defeat | Treatment |
| Powdery mildew | Black dots and cobwebs appear on the stems, leaves and buds. | It is necessary to spray the plant with an antifungal agent. |
| spotting | The disease begins on the leaves, then the stem dries out. It can also attack seeds. | The bed should be dug up and treated with chemical disinfectants. |
| Blackleg | The stem becomes thinner and darker. | Plants need to be thinned out, the soil loosened and treated with anti-fungal agents. |
| Gray rot | A fluffy gray coating appears on the flowers, then the plant begins to rot. | The bushes need to be thinned out, fertilized, and treated for fungal diseases. |
| Caterpillars | All parts of the plant are affected, mainly from May to June. | Spray with tobacco infusion and Chlorophos as soon as the first pests are noticed. |
Horned violet is not only a beautiful and unpretentious flower, but it is also successfully used in cooking. Fragrant flowers give salads, desserts, and yoghurts an exquisite, unusual taste and beautiful appearance. They are candied, frozen in ice cubes, and used to decorate various treats.
Which varieties of ampelous viola to choose
Of course, when choosing a variety, you should first of all focus on your taste and the color scheme of the intended flower arrangements. The variety of varieties and hybrids of ampelous viola allows you to choose options for the implementation of any idea.
For example, plants from the 'Waterfall' F1 variety series are distinguished by juicy, rich shades (golden yellow, noble lilac, snow-white or dramatic violet-black), and their shoots are only about 30 cm long, due to which a dense spherical bush is formed, abundantly strewn with flowers.
The compact shape of the bush (with shoots 30-35 cm long) and small, numerous flowers are also characteristic of hanging violas from the 'Endurio' F1 variety series. They are distinguished by the dark, rich color of velvety petals (cherry red or dark purple) with a contrasting yellow eye in the center of the flower.
Ampelous viola 'Wonder Fall Golden with red wings' F1 has shoots up to 50 cm long and is distinguished by larger flowers of variegated color in a warm yellow-orange-red tones. Even longer shoots (45-60 cm) are found in ampelous violas from the popular variety series 'Plenshifol' F1. A spectacular cascade of white, yellow, red or purple flowers will decorate your balcony or terrace all summer.
Whatever variety of ampelous viola you choose, this plant will charm you with its beauty and conquer you with its unpretentiousness. It is not for nothing that these flowers have long become recognized favorites of many amateur gardeners.
