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Violets & Violas Single Hardy Violets .......Semidouble Hardy Violets
Nothing can compare to the delicious scent of sweet violets in the spring. Easily grown, they will flower best when given sunlight in the spring, and some shade in the summer. Under and around deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal. To keep the leaves fresh during the summer months, spray them occasionally with a hard stream of water and use a moisture retentive mulch around the plants. Baronne Alice de Rothschild (1894) Large, scented flowers of blue-violet on long stems. This is a strong growing variety that makes a nice display in the garden. Charles Wm. Groves Named by Clive Groves for his father, this lovely, scented violet is a striking color of warm magenta with a purple petal reverse. Very floriferous. Clive Groves The large, reddish-purple flowers are very fragrant. Being a prolific seeder makes this an excellent violet for naturalizing. Named for a third generation violet grower in Dorset, England. Coeur d' Alsace (1916) Medium sized, nicely scented blooms are a bright rosy-pink deepening in color toward the center. A very pleasing pink violet. Elizabeth Bailes A distinctively beautiful violet from Australia. The carpets of healthy foliage are topped by amethyst-pink flowers held on strong upright stems. Though unscented, this is a very fine violet. Fair Oaks (1986) Originating in the garden of my family home, the color of this violet, unlike any other, is a delicate shade of liac-pink. The medium sized flowers on long stems are extremely fragrant. This seeds true and spreads very rapidly making a nice woodland ground cover.
Governor Herrick (1910) A very large flowered, long stemmed violet, once widely grown as a cut flower in England. Similar to Royal Robe but with slightly darker foliage that is more resistant to spider mites. Lightly scented. Lianne (1906) Compact growth covered with rich purple flowers which are highly scented. It also has a long season of bloom. An excellent violet. Mme Armandine Pages (1900) Highly scented, medium sized flowers are a deep shade of rose-pink. Compact habit and a long season of bloom. Our favorite of the pink cultivars. Queen Charlotte Perhaps the longest blooming of the V. odoratas, the blue, lightly scented flowers, cover the low mats of foliage for two months in the spring. An excellent carpeting violet. Reid's Crimson Carpet (1998) This makes a compact carpet of tidy, deep green foliage. In spring this mat is covered with brilliant crimson flowers which are nicely scented. Named for our son Reid who thinks we should have patented this violet to help towards his college fund. He might be right.
Royal Robe (1940's) One of the more popular violets and deservedly so with its large, velvety purple flowers on long stem. Though not strongly scented, they are nice for picking. It makes a grand display in the gardens. Wren's Pink (1994) Of the hundreds of seedlings that crop up in the nursery few are sufficiently different to justify growing another named violet. However this selection stood out with its delicately scented flowers that are a luscious shade of pale pink. With her endorsement named for our daughter Elicia Wren. S Each of the above violets---------$5.00 each Quantity prices available. Contact us for availability and prices
In the history of Violet cultivation there have been only five semi-double violets grown. We have been fortunate to be a participant in bringing back into cultivation several of these rare historic plants. Of the original five violets, three of these are in cultivation and there is probably a fourth in someone's garden. This would be the cultivar Princess Mary, a large semidouble flower with double row of violet-blue petals. It was considered by some to be the finest of this type. Hopefully an observant gardener somewhere will rediscover this lost violet. The following four violets are hardy to zone 5-6. Double Russian In the 1920's and 30's 'Double Russian' was reasonably commonand could be found in many nursery catalogs during that period. However by the late 1970's it was nearly lost to cultivation. Our stock came from the one remaining plant of Lamb Nurseries. We have listed it periodically through the years as our supplies allow. This year we have a good number of beautiful plants. The fully double flowers of rich purple are very strongly scented. The plants are slow growing and have a very low and compact habit. Semi-double Violets King of the Doubles Never before offered in the US, this unusual violet came to us from a good friend in Australia. The very fragrant flowers have violet-blue petals framing the multi petaled center of white streaked with blue. The flowers, when well grown, can attain a huge size carried on long 10" stems. It makes a first class garden plant with lush, healthy foliage. Similar to Mrs. David Lloyd George, but with a larger flower and foliage. Mrs. David Lloyd George (1915) One of the very special semi-double violets which we received a number of years ago from a gardener in England. The very fragrant, long stemmed flowers have violet-blue petals with a center rosette of white and lavender. Healthy, bright green foliage. It has a very long blooming season, here in northern California, it begins in November and blooms well into April. Above violets ----- Each $7.00
The origin of the Parma violet is not known as none have ever been found in the wild. Yet they have been in cultivation for several hundred years. The appeal being their double flowers which yield an incredible fragrance, like that of violet perfume. The Parma violets, unlike most violets, are not winter hardy. They can only tolerate temperatures to about 5° - 10°. Therefore in colder climate they will need some winter protection in a greenhouse or cold frame. They can also be brought indoors on a sunny window sill where they'll bloom during the winter months. For us they begin blooming in January and continue through March. They do not set seed so spreading in the garden is not a problem. When making your selection, keep in mind that they all have very double flowers and all are equally fragrant. Duchesse de Parme (1870) Double, soft lavender flowers. D'udine (1903) Large, dark lavender flowers are produce over a long period. A healthy, strong growing variety. Swanley White (1980) Large, pure white, double flowers on wide spreading plants. Violette De Toulouse (1875) From France comes this lovely Parma violet which is making a comeback as a cut flower in the Toulouse region of France. Vigorous plants with silky, lavender-blue flowers. Above Parma violets ----- Each $6.00 Feline A few years ago in France violet grower, Nathalie Casbas, observed a runner of Violette de Toulouse with single flowers. She propagated plants and shared a cutting with us. The single, deep lavender flowers have the same powerful fragrance as the double parmas and are held well above the foliage making a nice display. This is not only extremely rare and unique but is an outstanding violet in our climate for length of flowering, flower display and unrivaled fragrance. Each $7.00
The following violet species set lots of viable seed thus they increase quickly. For some gardens this is appropriate, for others it is not welcome. However, with that word of warning, they do have beautiful showy flowers which tend to flower after the sweet violets have flowered. These violets are effectively used as naturalized ground covers in areas with trees and shrubs. labradorica (current name V. riviniana Purpurea Group) With its purplish leaves this makes a lovely ground cover under and around shrubs. The dark foliage sets of the quantities of light blue violets in the spring. labradorica Alba A seedling originating in our nursery. The bright white flowers are stunning against the purple tinged foliage. A very choice violet. priceana The Confederate Violet has white flowers with a central wash of pale grey-blue. Closely related to and thus similar in habit to the V. sororias. riviniana 'Variegata' A unique variegated violet. It makes a most unusual groundcover with its leaves speckled and marbled with creamy white. The variegation is quite pronounced and lightens up a shady spot in the garden. Small lavender-blue flowers. sororia Alba The V. sororias are the most prolific of the violets making very dense clumps of lush foliage. The large flowers make a nice garden display in mid spring. Alba as the name indicates has large, white flowers. sororia Alice Witter Large white flowers, each with a red eye. Very showy. sororia Freckles The flowers of pale blue are dusted with dark blue flecks. Attracts many comments from those who have never seen it. sororia Red Giant Large, deep reddish flowers on long stems. A very strong growing violet. Above species violets ----- Each $4.50 Quantity prices available |
