Even though winter violas look pretty and delicate, they are tough enough to handle frost and snow and can flower all winter long. Author :Greg Loades.
Violas are a delightful and versatile flower that can add pops of color to your garden in every season. But do these cheery blooms flower during the winter? The answer is yes! With proper care, violas can flower continuously from late winter through early summer.
An Overview of Violas
Violas belong to the diverse Viola genus which contains around 500 species. While pansies are actually a type of viola many gardeners differentiate between the two. In general violas have smaller, more delicate flowers on shorter stems compared to their close cousins the pansies.
These hardy plants are low maintenance, tolerate cold temperatures, and bloom prolifically In warm climates, violas may bloom year-round Those grown in zones 5-9 can start flowering in late winter if planted in fall. With optimal care, violas flower from February through June in most regions.
Violas come in a rainbow of colors like purple, blue, yellow, white, pink, orange and red. Popular varieties for winter include ‘Sorbet XP’, ‘Frizzle Sizzle’, and ‘Tiger Eye’. Old-fashioned types like Johnny Jump Ups are also cold hardy.
Tips for Growing Violas that Bloom All Winter
You can enjoy violas in flower beds, containers or hanging baskets over winter by following these tips:
Choose Cold-Tolerant Varieties
Select violas bred to withstand freezing temperatures and bloom through cooler weather. Read plant tags or seed packets to ensure the variety you pick is suitable for your zone.
Plant in Fall
Get violas in the ground 8-10 weeks before your first expected frost. Planting in fall allows time for roots to establish so they can better handle winter. Container-grown violas should also be planted in fall.
Site in Full Sun
Place violas where they’ll get a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight, especially in winter when light levels are lower. Morning sun is ideal.
Use Rich, Well-Draining Soil
Violas thrive in nutrient-rich soil that drains well. Amend beds with compost or organic matter before planting. Container mixes should also be light, fertile and fast-draining.
Water Consistently
Water violas regularly so soil stays evenly moist but not saturated. Avoid overwatering. Water when top few inches become dry. Hotter or windier conditions cause plants to dry out faster.
Apply Balanced Fertilizer
Fertilize violas at planting time with a balanced formula like 10-10-10. This encourages strong roots and plants before winter arrives. Fertilize lightly again in early spring.
Protect from Heavy Frosts
Insulate violas when temperatures plummet below 25°F (-4°C). Cover plants with fabric row cover, pine needles or leaves. Move containers to an unheated garage or shed if needed.
Deadhead Faded Blooms
Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Clip back each stem right above a set of healthy leaves.
Prune Leggy Growth in Spring
If plants get leggy after winter, cut them back by a third to half their size in early spring. This rejuvenates growth.
Growing Violas in Winter Containers
Violas are one of the best choices for adding cold-hardy color to outdoor pots and planters. Follow these tips for success:
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Use containers with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. Clay or plastic pots work well.
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Site containers in full sun. Move to part shade in summer if needed.
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Fill pots with premium potting mix enriched with slow-release fertilizer.
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Plant violas 4-6 inches apart for fuller pots faster. Water them in well.
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Water when soil dries out on top. Don’t let pots totally dry out.
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Remove faded blooms and pinch plants back as needed in spring.
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Pull violas when summer arrives and replace with heat-loving plants.
Extending Bloom Time Into Summer
In zones with moderate summers, you can keep violas flowering longer by:
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Choosing heat-tolerant varieties where available
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Moving pots or planting beds to part shade in hot afternoons
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Keeping plants consistently watered during dry spells
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Trimming leggy growth back by a third which promotes new blooms
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Topdressing with fresh, fertile soil and fertilizer in early summer
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Adding mulch around plants to keep roots cool
Even with these efforts, most gardeners find it’s best to pull violas by early summer and replant for the hottest weeks. Luckily these champions will bloom again when sown in fall!
The Cheerful Charms of Violas
From their delicate, colorful blooms to their winter hardiness, it’s easy to see why gardeners love violas. With proper planting and care, these flowering favorites can brighten up beds, borders and containers for months on end. Even when snow flies, violas find a way to keep spreading beauty.
Winter violas look dainty and delicate but they are tough enough to survive frost and snow and can flower all through winter.
Winter violas have small flowers that come in many color combinations and patterns. They should produce more flowers than winter pansies, which have bigger flowers.
To get the best from winter violas, plant them in pots, window boxes and flowerbeds close to the house, so you have them close at hand to enjoy the intricacy of their flowers.
If you want your winter violas to flower all winter, make sure you cut off the old flowerheads as soon as the flowers die. Use garden snips to trim the old flowers off and you will be rewarded with more blooms. Also, it’s important to keep the compost that winter violas are growing in from getting too wet. This can lead to the leaves turning yellow and the plants dying.
To avoid this, make sure the container you grow winter violas in has lot of drainage holes in the bottom so that water can escape. Place the containers on blocks of wood or pot feet to help drainage.
Avoid using composts that contain water-retaining agents. Instead use an equal parts mix of multi-purpose compost and John Innes compost. Put a handful of grit in each pot or hanging basket, and then mix it into the soil before you plant.
Vines that bloom in the winter look good with a lot of different plants because they come in many colors. To make the base of potted evergreens like the fragrant Christmas box or yew stand out more, plant violas. Or, to really show off their winter colors, put them in a protected patio corner with Cyclamen persicum.
To see more flowering plants from The English Garden Advent Calendar, click here.
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Cold Hardy Plants: Pansies & Violas | P. Allen Smith (2019)
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