Horned violet is a true gardener's find. For more than 450 species and varieties of this plant characterized by unpretentiousness and long flowering, which makes its cultivation easy even for novice florists.
With proper care, this flower will become a real decoration of the garden.
Let's find out in more detail what the perennial horned violet looks like - varieties and description.
Horned violet
The scientific name of this flower is Viola cornuta . It is this natural species that is most often meant when it comes to horned violet.
It is a representative of the large violet family, which was introduced into cultivation in the second half of the 18th century.
general information
This name includes both the perennial street violet (V. cornuta) and the varieties bred on its basis, as well as numerous hybrids . For a number of characteristics, they often differ significantly from the natural species, especially in winter hardiness.
Varietal violets live in flower beds as perennials and can withstand frosts down to -25℃, while hybrids are more susceptible to unfavorable conditions and are often grown as annuals or biennials.
You can see a photo of the perennial horned violet on the right.
Growing in nature
The natural habitat of viola is the mountainous terrain of Spain and France.
Morphological description
Horned violet is a herbaceous perennial of the Violet family. Depending on the variety, the bush grows up to 10-25 cm in height. As they grow, the stems intertwine and form dense cushions.
Leaves:
- Simple;
- Dark green color;
- Oval shape;
- Pointed.
The flowers are solitary on a long stalk and are characterized by a delicate aroma . The diameter of the corolla depends on the variety and ranges from 2 to 5 cm. Petal color:
- White;
- Yellow;
- And the whole spectrum from blue to violet tones.
There is a bright yellow spot in the center of the flower. On the reverse side of the corolla there is an elongated process similar to a horn.
The fruit is a single-locular capsule.
Important! Some hybrid forms of violet do not have a horned spur.
All varieties and hybrids obtained from this species have a number of advantages :
- Wide range of petal colors;
- Early onset of flowering, which begins in April-May;
- Long flowering - from May to September;
- Resistance to cold;
- Stable immunity to phytopathogens.
Horned violet hybrids have other advantages.
Garden forms are represented by simple and ampelous varieties.
Features of the root system
The plant has a branched rhizome - a modified underground stem, thanks to which it actively grows.
Just a few bushes in a year can form a dense cushion with an area of 2 m2. Each can bear up to several dozen flowers.
The roots of the horned violet are actively growing.
Description
This perennial plant belongs to the genus Violet, family Violet-like. It can reach sizes (height) of up to 26 cm. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and grow in diameter from 2.5 to 5 cm. The petals are quite long, reminiscent of butterfly wings. It grows in small bushes, which, when planted close together, form a kind of carpet.
The violet owes its name to the process present on the back of the flower, similar to a horn or spur. Some modern hybrids of this species do not have such a distinctive horn.
It has been used in gardening as an ornamental plant since the late 18th century.
Horned violet is a creeping plant that, thanks to its branched rhizome, grows widely. 2-3 plants in the second year can completely cover an area of about 2 square meters. m. Flowers grow abundantly on the bushes. So on one viola you can count up to 60 buds and blossoming flowers.
The leaves of the plant are dark green, oval, with rounded teeth at the edges of some varieties. On long cuttings there are single flowers, in their middle there is a yellow or orange “eye”. There are many colors of the petals themselves, developed using the hybridization method. They can be: lilac, yellow, orange, purple, burgundy, etc. There are also single-color varieties of violets, which are most widely used in the design of large flower beds, as well as in landscape design. There are varieties with a combination of several shades of the same color, these are popular among amateur gardeners.
Another undeniable advantage of horned violets is their long flowering. It starts in May and ends by the end of September. In spring there is a peak of this process, the flowers are the largest and there are many of them, by autumn this process gradually subsides.
They feel good and enjoy strong flowering in one place for 5 years, then they need to be transplanted to another.
Growing in open ground
The perennial bicorn violet is quite unpretentious , but in order for it to feel good, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for it.
How to choose a landing site?
Viola prefers moderate temperatures , so it is better to plant it in partial shade or next to larger plants that can protect the violet from overheating.
Attention! Too much shading promotes stagnation of moisture and can provoke an attack by slugs on violets.
In addition, the area should be well ventilated .
What soils does the plant prefer?
For abundant flowering of viola, the soil must be of the required quality:
- The most suitable is loamy, well-drained soil with an acidity of 6.5-7.2;
- To avoid stagnation of water, you can prepare a substrate from a mixture of humus and loam;
- The soil surface is mulched with wood chips, tree bark, etc. to retain moisture.
Watering and fertilizing
Viola needs to be well watered and fed a little, which is determined by the quality of the soil. Fertilize the soil no more than twice a year:
- In the spring, when the violet begins to grow, and at the end - after the end of flowering;
- It is optimal to use mineral or organic fertilizer containing a complex of microelements.
Important! The exception is fresh manure, which is destructive for violets.
Planting rejuvenation, pruning, decorative support
To maintain an impeccable appearance of the flower bed, it is recommended to replant young violets . This update will go completely unnoticed.
To rejuvenate the bush, it is necessary to replant young shoots.
To maintain the beauty of the bushes, peduncles with seed pods are removed at the end of the season.
Preparing for winter
Horned viola is characterized by high resistance to low temperatures . In many regions of Russia, it winters right in the flowerbed. To do this, just place spruce branches or sawdust on top of the flowers.
Problems during cultivation
Violet, like many plants, is susceptible to various diseases and pest attacks. The table below shows the most common ones.
| Disease/pest | Defeat | Treatment |
| Powdery mildew | Black dots and cobwebs appear on the stems, leaves and buds. | It is necessary to spray the plant with an antifungal agent. |
| spotting | The disease begins on the leaves, then the stem dries out. It can also attack seeds. | The bed should be dug up and treated with chemical disinfectants. |
| Blackleg | The stem becomes thinner and darker. | Plants need to be thinned out, the soil loosened and treated with anti-fungal agents. |
| Gray rot | A fluffy gray coating appears on the flowers, then the plant begins to rot. | The bushes need to be thinned out, fertilized, and treated for fungal diseases. |
| Caterpillars | All parts of the plant are affected, mainly from May to June. | Spray with tobacco infusion and Chlorophos as soon as the first pests are noticed. |
Horned violet is not only a beautiful and unpretentious flower, but it is also successfully used in cooking. Fragrant flowers give salads, desserts, and yoghurts an exquisite, unusual taste and beautiful appearance. They are candied, frozen in ice cubes, and used to decorate various treats.
Features of growing from seeds at home
How is horned perennial violet grown from seeds? Propagation of viola by seeds provides the plant with greater resistance to diseases .
Sowing seedlings
Violet seeds are sown for seedlings in February :
- A layer of drainage made of expanded clay or other materials is laid on the bottom of the container, then the prepared earthen mixture;
- The substrate is disinfected with a freshly prepared hot solution of potassium permanganate (0.5 g dissolved in a liter of water) and dried in air;
- Make grooves at intervals of 1.5-2 cm and a depth of 0.3–0.4 cm, lay out the seeds, cover them with earth and water and moisten them by spraying;
- Greenhouse conditions are created, the film is opened slightly once a day for ventilation.
Important! After germination, the seedlings are placed in good light at an air temperature of up to 18 °C.
What do the shoots look like?
The sprouts that appear have two rounded leaves on a thin stem. For 2 - 3 weeks they should be shaded from bright sunlight.
Seedling care
Young violets are shaded and weeded; 12-14 days after rooting, mineral fertilizing can be done .
Picking
After the formation of several pairs of true leaves, a pick is carried out - transplantation to a permanent place .
There should be some distance between the violets when planting.
It is recommended to do this already in April, since the seedlings can withstand frost. The interval between violets is 5 cm.
Features of sowing in open ground
Sowing of seed material is carried out in the period August 10-September 10 :
- The earth is loosened and grooves are formed;
- The seeds are covered with soil, watered, and mulched.
Seedlings will appear only next spring . If the crop is too thick, pick it. You can start replanting them in August.
Seed germination
The packet of seeds indicates the similarity , which can range from 60 to 95%. This should be taken into account when sowing. In open ground, sprouts need traditional care.
Features of flower care
Summer viola care includes the following activities:
- pruning faded flower stalks;
- cleaning up fallen leaves;
- weeding;
- monitoring pests and diseases, treatment if necessary.
Advice. Replant young plants every three years. This way, the change of generations of violets will pass unnoticed, and the flowerbed will retain its decorative appeal.
Viola needs moisture; on hot days, watering is done twice a day - morning and evening. Feeding is done two to three times per season. The number of procedures depends on the quality of the soil. The first application of fertilizer should be in early summer. It is recommended to use complex mineral fertilizer. During the next subcortex, organic matter is added. Fertilizers are dissolved in water and the violets are watered. To reduce moisture evaporation and prevent abundant weed growth, clumps are mulched with sawdust, wood chips or sprinkled with expanded clay.
Vegetative propagation
Violets are easy to propagate by parts of the plant - vegetatively .
Dividing the bush
This method is used from early spring until mid-summer, then the plant will have time to form a root system before the onset of winter :
- The bush is removed from the ground and divided into several parts, each of which has roots;
- Separated violets are planted in a shaded place on moist soil.
The humidity of the substrate is constantly monitored . Rooting takes two to three weeks, but young violets are transplanted to a permanent place only in the spring of next year.
By layering
One of the easiest ways to propagate violets:
- Select a longer shoot from the bush, bend it back and attach it to the soil with brackets;
- The attachment points are sealed with soil, which is periodically moistened;
- Over the course of a month, roots will develop on the fixed stem.
Important! After rooting, the cuttings are separated from the adult violet.
Cuttings
Violets are propagated by cuttings from June to mid-summer :
- The stem is cut into cuttings 5 cm long and several nodes;
- Each segment should have 3-4 leaves;
- Root the plants in a container with a substrate that is well moistened;
- The cutting is inserted into the substrate at an angle to a depth of 1 cm;
- The pot is covered with film, creating greenhouse conditions, and opened once a day for ventilation.
Soon after rooting, the plants will begin to grow; after wintering, they are transplanted to the site .
Recommendations for planting and care
Growing viola is not difficult. In order for the plant to delight you with its flowering for a long time, you need to follow proper agricultural practices.
Soil, lighting, degree of moisture
Forest violet - description, varieties and characteristics of varieties
The culture prefers to grow in light partial shade. In the sun and in full shade, the stems will stretch and the flowers will become smaller. In shady and damp conditions, bushes can be attacked by snails and slugs.
The culture can develop in any substrate, but it will look most decorative when grown in loose, breathable soil. If the soil is heavy, you need to lay drainage at the bottom of the planting hole.
Water the bushes as the soil layer dries out. The hotter and drier the summer, the more often the soil needs to be moistened.
For your information! With a lack of moisture, the flowers become smaller and curl up.
Varietal violets and hybrids
In the process of many years of selection, experts bred different varieties of violets . They consistently transmit parental characteristics when propagated by seeds or vegetatively.
Hybrids are obtained by crossing :
- Different varieties;
- Or hybrids with each other.
transmits their characteristics :
- During vegetative propagation;
- During seed propagation, traits are not reproduced stably.
Important! To reproduce the color of hybrids, they are propagated only vegetatively.
Not all hybrid violets have a horn-like process ; this feature is often suppressed by the genes of another violet species that is involved in the hybridization.
All representatives of horned violets are perennials , but hybrid forms quickly lose their decorative effect, so they are grown for one or two years.
Varietal violets usually withstand severe frosts without shelter, but in order for hybrids to survive the winter, they must be covered with:
- Dry leaves;
- Lapnik;
- Or other covering material.
Young violets, even frost-resistant varieties, need shelter .
Bambini horned
The variety is winter-hardy. The bush grows up to 15 cm in height , the stems form dense cushions.
Violet Bambini hornata.
The hybrid line is represented by flowers of various colors, but with the obligatory yellow spot in the center and a contrasting pattern in the form of a fantastic face.
Button blue
Plant height is about 20 cm . The flowers are 3-5 cm in diameter, pale blue in color and have a light aroma.
Violet Button Blue.
Lady horned
The height of the bush is 10 cm. The stems are intertwined into dense pillows. The flowers are tricolor purple-lavender with a yellow lower petal.
Violet Lady Horned.
Flowering is abundant , the bush can bear up to 50 flowers.
Gzhel patterns
The color of the white and blue flowers is similar to Gzhel painting . The bushes reach a height of 15-20 cm. The stems grow into dense cushions.
Violet Gzhel patterns.
Baby
The bushes grow up to 10 cm in height, the stems form thick cushions . The varietal line is represented by white or blue-violet flowers.
Violet Baby.
At the same time, a bush can bear several dozen flowers.
Fashionista
The height of the bushes is about 15 cm, the varietal line is represented by yellow and blue flowers .
Violet Fashionista.
Ruby perfection
The flowers are medium-sized, round, bright ruby in color, with a blurred dark spot . The stems grow into thick cushions.
Violet Ruby perfection.
Tiger Eye Red
Flowers with a unique veined color and abundant early bloom .
Violet Tiger Eye Red.
Scottish (Scotland)
This hybrid line can have a wide variety of colors .
Scottish violet.
Orange Parple Wing
Flowers with:
- Bright orange lower petals;
- Purple veins in the center;
- Spots around the edges.
Violet Orange Parple Wing.
The upper pair of petals are dark purple .
Viola sororia
Viola Sororia (moth viola) is a perennial bush species, up to 20 cm high. Primrose, blooms in April-May, sometimes again at the end of summer. This is a small, compact bush formed by wide heart-shaped leaves. Each flower, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, is supported on its own stem, rising above the leaves. There are varieties with blue-violet, white, white-blue flowers.
Viola Sororia is used as a ground cover - when decorating alpine slides, borders, garden paths, and flower beds.
Viola Sororia - perennial unpretentious violet
Viola Sororia varieties:
- Ruba – blue-violet flowers;
- Frickles (“Freckles”) – white flowers with blue specks;
- Albiflora – snow-white flowers.
Use in landscape design
Plants are planted in a group so that their flowering creates a feeling of celebration .
Violets look unsurpassed next to evergreen shrubs , as well as in the front line of flower beds. Viola grown in flowerpots and pots is a decoration for a home veranda or balcony.
Violets go well with most garden plants. But it is better not to plant them next to lilies of the valley or sweet peas.
Horned violet in landscape design.
Prevention from diseases and pests
Violet Fairy - description and characteristics of the variety
Viola, when planted in contaminated soil, or with excessive moisture, can be affected by putrefactive microorganisms. For prevention in the spring, the perennial is sprayed with fungicides, and agricultural practices are also followed.
Possible pests of violets are slugs, snails, aphids, and violet mother of pearl. To prevent their appearance, the bushes are sprayed with an infusion of potato tops and onion peels. Tobacco is scattered around the plants. Insecticides are used among chemical preparations.
How to pick a viola
When growing viola, you cannot do without picking. Conduct it in the phase of 1-2 true leaves in a container with a diameter of 6-7 cm. The plant tolerates replanting very well; it is not afraid of even minor damage to the root system. After the procedure, continue weekly feeding and monitor watering.
If a young viola has stretched out, there is a way to save the seedlings. Bury the sprouts into the soil up to the cotyledons. Thanks to the manipulation, additional roots will begin to grow, and the viola will have time to gain strength for flowering.
Viola seedlings also need pinching, which will enhance bushiness. It should be carried out in the phase of 2-3 pairs of true leaves.
How to propagate violets Wedding bouquet
There are several options for propagating Wedding Bouquet violets. One of them is using cuttings. You need to use the leaves of the middle row of the rosette. You can immediately place the leaf cuttings in prepared loose soil, or you can first put them in water and wait until the roots appear.
Rooting cuttings in water
Within a month, babies appear on the cuttings. You shouldn’t separate them and replant them right away. You need to wait until the leaves become 3-4 centimeters in diameter.
To protect the young rosette, it is recommended to cover it with a transparent cap during rooting. After new leaves appear, the cap can be removed.
Another method of propagation is growing from a stepson. Violet Wedding flower often throws out daughter rosettes, which must be removed immediately. There should only be one outlet in the pot. If both mother and stepson grow in the same pot, the flower will not bloom. The stepson is carefully separated from the flower and transplanted into special soil.
Growing from seeds
You can also grow violets from seeds. To do this, the seeds must first be prepared.
First, they are mixed one to one with crushed charcoal, and then, in the same proportions, with sand. In this case, the mixture must be shaken thoroughly.
For planting seeds, special phyto-cassettes with a lid are best suited. First, drainage is poured into the container, then sand, sphagnum moss and finally soil. Next, the seeds are planted on moist, pre-prepared soil. Cover with a lid and place in a warm place, out of direct sunlight.
