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Huge numbers of pansies and violas for winter containers are sold every year to gardeners who love their colourful blooms. Summer-flowering perennial violas, on the other hand, are much less widely grown. Yet they’re a great choice for the summer and will earn their place in your garden with an incredibly long flowering period, delightful blooms and lovely scent, plus they will grow back year after year.
Which? Gardening magazine grew a range of popular varieties in the north and south of the UK to see which would give us the best display.
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PLANT TYPE Herbaceous perennial
POSITION Full sun or part shade
SOIL Moist but well-drained and humus-rich
January | February | March | April | May | June |
PLANT | PLANT | ||||
July | August | September | October | November | December |
TRIM | PLANT | PLANT |
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Variety name | Overall rating | Height x spread (cm) | Flower impact | Duration of flowering | Flower display | Plant shape | Plant vigour and survival over two years | Scent | Pests & disease |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
★★★★★ | 25 x 40 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
★★★★★ | 20 x 35 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | |
★★★★★ | 30 x 45 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | |
★★★★☆ | 25 x 45 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |
★★★★☆ | 25 x 40 | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |
★★★★☆ | 15 x 55 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
★★★★☆ | 25 x 40 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
USING THE TABLE OVERALL RATING The more stars the better. Rating ignores price and is based on: flower impact 20%; flower duration 15%; flower display 15%; shape of plants 15%; vigour and survival 15%; scent 10%; health 10%. Figures given are from the second year of the trial. Height and spread taken at peak flowering in north London in the second year of the trial.
Plant in sun or part shade into well-drained soil that doesn’t dry out in summer. Violas also grow well in pots filled with a Best Buy compost for containers mixed with Best Buy controlled-release feed.
Water them during any long dry spells of weather in summer to prevent the soil drying out. Water daily if growing in pots.
In July, straggly plants can be lightly trimmed with shears to take off the top 2-3cm of growth. In autumn, when flowering has finished, cut plants back to around 5cm high.
Plants grown in reasonably fertile soil shouldn’t need feeding. In poor soil, feed with a general fertiliser in spring. Either add controlled-release fertiliser to containers at planting time or liquid feed fortnightly with a high-potash feed such as tomato food.
Slugs target new growth in spring. Pick off any you find and use organic pellets containing ferric phosphate to keep them at bay.
Read more about slugs.
Aphids often attack the early growth in spring. Check the base of the plants, where they tend to hide, and squash any that you see to prevent them getting established.
Read more about aphids.
Fungal diseases causing black leaf spots and downy mildew are common on perennial violas. Remove affected leaves and stems if you see them. Fungicide sprays can help with leaf spots, but not downy mildew. Don’t replant violas where badly affected plants have been grown before.