Viola flowers are bold, bright, and beautiful. They don’t need much care and get along well with other plants, so they’re a great choice for your home garden.
If youre interested in restoring your landscaping, or youre planning a landscape renovation, violas are a great choice. In this article, well discuss the basics about violas, their care, when to plant them, and much more.
You’ll know everything you need to know to go plant something right away! Look at some pictures of viola flowers and think about how you can use them in your garden.
Violas are one of the most popular cool weather annual flowers that can brighten up any garden or patio. Their cheery blossoms come in a variety of colors like purple, yellow, orange, red, white and even blue. Violas are easy to grow in pots and require minimal care once established. With proper care, violas grown in containers can bloom abundantly from early spring through late fall.
Why Grow Violas in Pots?
Violas are extremely versatile flowers that can be grown directly in garden beds or in containers, Here are some of the benefits of growing violas in pots
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Portability – Pots allow you to easily move violas to highlight them in your outdoor space or even bring them indoors.
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Space Saving – Violas do well in confined spaces like pots or window boxes. This makes them perfect for small patios or balconies.
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Height – Growing in containers elevates violas to eye level for maximum enjoyment.
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Bold Impact – A pot full of violas makes a big splash of color. Group pots together for a vibrant display.
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Flowers All Season – Regular deadheading keeps container violas blooming for months
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Cascading Types – Some trailing violas are stunning draping over container edges.
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Design Flexibility – Violas complement any other plants, flowers or decor in potted arrangements.
Choosing a Container
Violas thrive in pots of all shapes, sizes and materials. Follow these tips when selecting containers:
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Size – For one viola plant, use a pot 8-12 inches wide. For three plants, a 12-16 inch wide pot.
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Depth – At least 6-8 inches deep to accommodate viola roots.
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Drainage – Be sure pot has drainage holes to prevent wet soil.
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Material – Clay, plastic, wood, concrete and metal pots all work well.
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Design – Match pot style to your decor, or make a bold statement.
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Use liners in decorative pots without drainage holes. Or place rocks in bottom.
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Self-watering pots are great for keeping soil consistently moist.
Best Soil for Violas in Pots
Violas need a rich soil that drains well to grow their best in containers. Here are a few great potting mix options:
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Peat or coco coir based potting mix – Retains moisture but allows drainage.
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Potting soil blended with compost or leaf mold – Adds nutrients and organic matter.
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Regular garden soil can be used but amend with compost.
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Mix in perlite or builder’s sand if using heavier clay soil to improve drainage.
How to Plant Violas in Pots
Planting violas properly sets them up for success. Here’s how to plant violas in containers:
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Fill pot with moistened soil within 2 inches of the rim.
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Poke holes spaced 8-12 inches apart for viola transplants or seeds.
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Carefully place viola transplant root ball in hole and backfill with soil.
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Or drop 2-3 viola seeds in each hole, cover with 1/4 inch soil.
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Gently tamp soil around violas to remove air pockets.
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Water thoroughly until excess drips from pot drainage holes.
Caring for Violas in Pots
Caring for violas in containers focuses on providing the right amount of sun, water and fertilizer. Here are viola pot care tips:
Sunlight
Violas need at least 6 hours of sun per day. More sun equals more flowers! Rotate pots to encourage even growth.
Water
Keep soil moist but not saturated. Water when top inch of soil dries out. Add water until it drains from the pot bottom.
Fertilizer
Feed violas every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer during growing season. Slow release pellets work too.
Temperature
Ideal temps are 60-70°F. Avoid extreme heat. Move pots to a shady spot or indoor location during summer heat waves.
Deadheading
Removing spent blooms regularly encourages violas to flower continuously. Snip off old flowers back to a leaf node.
Pruning
If violas get long and leggy, cut them back halfway to promote bushy new growth and flowers.
Overwintering
In zones 8 and warmer, violas may survive winter outdoors. Mulch pots and remove cold damaged growth in spring.
Tips for Growing Different Types of Violas
The care is the same, but grow different viola varieties for unique colors and flower forms. Some top types for pots include:
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana)
This viola hybrid bears large, colorful 2-3 inch blooms. Great in mixed containers.
Johnny Jump Ups (Viola tricolor)
Dainty violas with purple, yellow and white patterned flowers look lovely spilling over pot edges.
Tufted Violas (Viola cornuta)
These blooms are slightly smaller but add bright, multi-colored hues to potted arrangements.
Trailing Violas
Cascade violas have a vine-like spread perfect for hanging baskets and tall pots. Try ‘Helen Mount’ or ‘Purple Showers’.
Scented Violas
Some violas like ‘Viola Joanna’ and ‘Citrus Mix’ have a lovely fragrance. Plant near walkways or patios to enjoy.
Edible Violas
Yes, viola flowers are edible! Use the blooms to garnish desserts or add color to salads. Just be sure plants are grown without pesticides.
Common Problems With Violas in Pots
Violas are generally trouble-free, but occasionally issues pop up. Here’s how to handle them:
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Leggy growth – Cut back and fertilize to stimulate new growth.
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Powdery mildew – Improve air circulation and reduce watering frequency.
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Aphids – Use insecticidal soap sprays or strong blasts of water to dislodge.
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Gray mold – Remove affected leaves immediately. Space plants for better airflow.
Enjoying Violas in Pots
One of the best parts of growing violas is getting to savor their cheery blossoms right outside your door. Here are some ways to get the most enjoyment from potted violas:
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Place viola pots by entries, patios and walkways for a warm welcome.
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Display violas in groups or mix with other flowers for a lively color statement.
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Use trailing violas in hanging baskets or tall pedestal pots.
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Bring viola pots indoors to enjoy their beauty inside too.
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Pick viola flowers to float in drinks or use as fun cake decorations.
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Take viola potted arrangements indoors in winter and replace with cool weather pansies.
Growing violas in pots is an easy way to bring gorgeous color to patios, porches and balconies. Follow this viola container growing guide for thriving plants that will bloom abundantly with minimal care. Be sure to make the most of your potted violas by displaying them in high impact areas where you can fully enjoy their vibrant blossoms.
How Viola Flowers Look – Color, Growth, And More
Most violas have slightly scalloped, heart-shaped leaves, though some more exotic species may have other shapes
They are mostly acaulescent, which means that the flowers look like they rise straight from the ground and there aren’t many stems or leaves to be seen. Violas usually have five flowers, with four petals that point up and one broad, smaller petal that points down.
Viola flower cultivars tend to be quite small, compared to pansies and other common garden flowers. Some, though, do get pretty big. Some can be up to 8 inches tall, and the flowers are about 2 to 3 inches across. Mostly, this depends on the particular genus that is planted.
When To Plant Viola Flowers
As mentioned, violas tend to thrive the most in cooler weather. Its best to plan them either in the cooler late autumn, or the early spring. If you plant them when its already warm, they may wither in the heat.
Start your Viola flowers indoors if you want to grow them yourself. They should be about 3 to 4 inches tall, which could take a few weeks. Then, plant them outside. Mid-September to early October is typically the best time to do so. In most places, March through April is the best time to plant in the spring, as long as it hasn’t frozen recently.
Viola Plant Chat: Learn Viola Plant Care and More – SGD 226
Do violas grow in pots?
They love the cooler weather and are perfect in pots, containers and cottage gardens! Violas are the smallest member of the Viola genus and bring color to the cool seasons of early spring and late fall. They are commonly known as Johnny Jump Ups, wild pansies or viola tricolor.
What kind of soil does a viola plant need?
Soil in the ground: Violas need well-draining, moist soil full of organic material. They crave a slightly acidic soil so if your soil is more alkaline, add peat moss or aluminum sulfate to increase acidity. In pots: When planting in pots and containers, use well-draining potting soil.
How do you grow a viola plant?
Pansies and the other violas are best grown in humusy, moist soil, such as a peat-based potting mix, or garden soil heavily amended with organic material. Violas like a slightly acidic soil; peat moss as a soil additive will help slightly acidify garden soil. Water regularly, but allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
How do you keep violas blooming?
Keep soil consistently moist and remove spent flowers to prolong blooming. After the first flush of flowers has passed, usually by early summer, you can trim back plants to keep them tidy and encourage additional blooms. Some violas will self-sow, so you may find plants popping up elsewhere in your garden and landscape.
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