VIBRANT VIOLAS

BY CONNALL OOSTERBROEK

The garden border wouldn't be complete without charming violas peeping out from a lightly shady spot. Their vibrant and extensive range of coloured faces includes deep blues, purples and lilacs, rich magentas and purple-pinks - many with eye-catching streaks, blotches or flakes of another colour.

Violas seem to be experiencing quite a revival among modern gardeners, having been bred first by the Victorians in the 1860s. South Africa is fortunate enough to have one of the world's leading breeders - Doug Fitzgerald. Viola is the genus name, which covers all the different species and varieties although, since the last century, a group of plants mostly stemming from Viola lutea and Viola cornuta have been commonly called violas. This lineage has accounted for violas being dwarf, compact annuals that have a very free-flowering habit and in South Africa they bloom all year round. However, during the heat of summer, like their larger-more showy relative, pansies, they should be planted in light shade. During winter and spring, they are quite comfortable in full sun and although they may seem delicate are in fact very hardy and frost resistant. If planted under deciduous trees they will continue to flower right into summer.

WHAT'S HOT?

Look out for these carefully selected Flowering Favourites at selected Garden Centers.

Tigers Eye is a truly unique viola - nothing quite like this has ever reached our lovely land before. It is something of a curiosity plant, perfect for those beds around your front entrance or pots on a patio where you entertain. Here their masses of striking golden blooms with pencil thin, pitch-black lines will create a big impact. Tigers Eye works well planted around the rim of a pot with black pansies in the center or inter-planted with red daubenya or blue muscari. Try it with any other unusual plant.

Gorgeous Lemon Cuty is locally bred and boasts a bright yellow face that contrasts well with maroon upper petals. It comes into flower early in the season and, because it tolerates warm temperature, it just carries on flowering well into summer. Its compact growth makes it ideal as a border, in containers or for mass planting. Plant Gorgeous Lemon Cuty with Prism Yellow petunias or yellow daffodils. They also work well as a border for bright yellow poppies.

Patiola Violet with Yellow Face marks a significant milestone in plant breeding; it is the first viola to carry a scent. And what a scent it is, delicate, but with enough body to carry. This makes it an ideal pot variety, placed near a favourite chair on the patio or even brought indoors for a special occasion. Alternatively plant as you would other violas.

PLANTING TIPS

Violas are perfect for edging beds, in pots and containers and are quite spectacular when massed planted. They are also ideal for linking other plants in the border. Purple and blue hued violas look particularly striking when planted amongst yellow daffodils. There they provide colour and interest before, and after the daffs have flowered, ensuring a constant colour feast. As unlikely as it may sound, a single viola plant, if cared for correctly, will produce in excess of 1 000 in a season.

If your violas begin to look a bit straggly they should be cut back to about 7.5cm. This will encourage strong new growth that will start to flower again in the following few weeks. Deadheading regularly throughout the year will not only keep plants tidy, but also prevents them setting seed, which wastes energy that could go into producing more flowers.

All violas like a humus-rich soil with plenty of leaf-mould or well-rotted manure added each spring. If this is provided they shouldn't require much more feeding as too much fertiliser can encourage soft leafy growth. A weak liquid feed which is high in potash can be included during the summer when watering plants.

GROWING IN POTS

To grow violas successfully in pots, they must be planted in containers that are at least 30cm deep. Keep them in a semi-shaded position so they don't burn up or dry out completely in the sun. Remember to treat as shade plant's in summer and full to partial sun during winter. Remember, like all container-grown plants, they will require much more frequent watering and possibly misting during hot dry weather.

PESTS AND DISEASES

Look for aphids in the summer and also in mild winters and, if present, spray timeously to prevent their numbers increasing. Slugs and snails can nibble their way through leaves, stems and even flowers but they can be controlled with slug pellets when necessary. Other than these, violas have few problems.

Article originally sourced from www.MundaWanga.co.za

Munda Wanga Nursery - Been Growing On You Since 1984