“Well, should I ask for violas or violets?” I was trying not to sound exasperated.
“I don’t know,” the kid at the nursery shrugged. “I think we call them violas. No, I think it’s violets. Whatever. I don’t think we had any last year.”
Violas, pansies, violets?
Even when familiar with the botanical characteristics of these little fellows, it is so confusing. If pansies and violets are violas, does that mean all violas are pansies and violets? The terms are so often interchanged. With more than 500 species in the Violaceae family, the viola is the mother of all violets.
What is and what isn’t. To be or not to be. That is the viola.
Like William Shakespeare’s pivotal character Viola in “Twelfth Night,” the viola does not always have the same appearance or name for that matter.
“A natural perspective that is and is not!” wrote the bard as if inspired by the flower that grows wild throughout much of the world.
From Grandma’s time to present
Our Texas grandmamas could have cared less about nomenclature.
They knew what they liked, and what they liked was the old-fashioned Johnny-jump-up, or Viola tricolor, with its small bluish-purple, yellow and white blooms.
What they also liked about this plant was that while it is an annual in the north, down south when winters are mild it can also be a short-lived, self-seeding biennial.
Across the state line there is an upstart hybrid that has become very popular. Years ago the Louisiana State University AgCenter added the Sorbet trademarked color series to its Super Plant lineup. To get to that point the Sorbets underwent rigorous testing to prove their steadfastness.
It has been reported that Sorbets are the most winter hardy of all violas. Furthermore, their blooms are larger than the old-fashioned violas. They are heavy bloomers and lend an almost unlimited color palette: red to deep scarlet, bright to pale yellow, white, multiple shades of orange and blue, lavender and even a purple so dark it is black to the eye.
With all of their special breeding, Sorbets have one drawback. They will reseed, but when they do, their offspring will be nonhybrids.
The modern-day viola hybrids sometimes have larger stems, leaves and blooms than the old-fashioned viola, but unlike the funny-faced pansy they share the same arrangement of three petals pointing upward and two pointing downward.
Violas arrive with cooler weather
Availability of the Sorbet and other violas in the Victoria area is hit or miss. It is kind of like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get at any particular nursery. Earthworks traditionally sticks with the Johnny-jump-up. Others don’t, but carry a variety of Sorbets.
Deliveries began this year in late September when the air started to cool, and just about every nursery visited had selections.
Easy to grow, violas are wonderful in mass plantings, containers, hanging baskets and even as indoor pot plants where there is ample light. They look great when they are paired with other plants and make wonderful borders.
Other plants, such as pansies, flowering cabbage and kale, red mustard, stock, calendulas, dianthus and snapdragons, would be good companions for violas.
Although they can be planted from seed, they are usually purchased in pots or plastic cell packs. Look for healthy plants, preferably abounding with buds. Even if it is a great temptation, avoid those plants in full bloom if you can. This helps to provide the grower with a longer bloom season.
When transplanting them into the soil, select spots where they are not subjected to the hot sun. They want sun to partial shade, moist, mulched soil and occasional fertilizer.
While popping them from their plastic cells or pots avoid pulling them by their delicate leaves and stems. Bury them at the same depth as they were in their purchased containers.
Like all plants they need to be watered but avoid boggy conditions that lead to rot and disease. As blooms dry up, it is good to deadhead them to encourage more flowering until it is too warm for them to produce blooms.
Doesn’t really matter what you call them
Once plants are in full bloom enjoy the romantic perfection of the viola’s color and scent, a remembrance of things past and the promise of things yet to come. At this point, it really doesn’t matter what you call them. As Juliet said to Romeo, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria County Master Gardener Association
