Violas have become staples of the winter garden, providing charming colour when little else is there to delight us. And their small flowers are so much more weather resistant than the large flowers of pansies. ‘Teardrops’ is a new variety that provides delightful winter and spring colour, but on neat semi-trailing plants that are ideal for hanging baskets.
The plants trail but are not long and lank; they branch well creating a neat look and ensuring that there are no gaps in the display – who wants to see the basket through the flowers? And, although the flowers are small, each plant carries so many flowers over such a long season that the display is always colourful. Plus – they’re scented.
There are eight colours in the mixture: some are almost pure colours, some have a few whiskers, and some have a bolder blotch.
Plants should flower in mild spells in winter, and in favoured areas and sheltered situations, may start flowering at Christmas. They really get into their stride in February and continue right through spring until it’s time to preplace them with summer plants. They should not be allowed to dry out and although they may appreciate a little liquid feed in long mild spells it’s more important to feed them in spring as the weather becomes consistently warmer.
Editor-in-Chief of the RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials; writer for a wide range of newspapers and magazines including The Garden and The Plantsman; member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee and Floral Trials Committee; author of many books on plants and gardens.
Source: HTA My Garden – Viola ‘Teardrops’: New fragrant Blend from You Garden – Graham Rice
