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DESCRIPTION:
This
is a large group of annuals and perennials. They are found wild in the
mild Northern regions, South and eastern Africa, South America,
Australia and New Zealand. These plants belong to the Violet family,
Violaceae. Viola contains a wide range of pretty woodland and rock
garden plants along with the more developed Bedding Violas, Sweet
Violets and Pansies, as they are commonly called. Pansies are descended
from the European wild Violas, V. tricolor and V. lutea. Bedding Violas
are hybrids between Pansies and Viola cornuta; they are sometimes called
tufted Pansies.
Flowering:
When planted in the fall pansies and violas will look good and bloom
until the first hard freeze. After that they will periodically
bloom during milder winter weather. When temperatures warm up in
the spring, they will flush back out and bloom until the temperatures
and humidity get high and then they will begin to struggle.
In the
spring, pansies and violas. should be planted in February or early March
at the latest. This will give you the maximum amount of time to
enjoy them. Like pansies and violas that are over-wintered, they
will begin to struggle with high temperatures and high humidity.
Spacing: Plant
6" apart.
Height: Violas will grow 3-5" tall and pansies will grow 5-8" tall.
How
to Grow: Plant pansies and violas in sun to part sun in the
fall and early spring.
Soil: The soil should be enriched with compost, leaf mold,
peat moss or humus and if clayey, some coarse sand.
Outstanding
Features: They need little
attention in the garden besides keeping the soil moist, but not
constantly saturated.
Tips: Pansies and violas prefer a cool, moist weather; they won't thrive in
hot, dry weather. An occasional dose of liquid fertilizer throughout
the growing season is beneficial.
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