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Herbaceous Perennial

Viola 'Bridie' (Va)

viola 'Bridie'

An evergreen perennial viola to 25cm high with deep green leaves and, from spring into summer, scented flowers borne on sturdy stems with cream to pale yellow frilly petals edged with violet

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Violaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Viola can be annuals, biennials or deciduous or evergreen perennials, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and 5-petalled flowers of characteristic shape
Name status: Accepted
Horticultural Group: Violas are compact reliably perennial, clump-forming plants with a complex root system and rounded, more or less fragrant flowers, often with darker rays, over a long period in late spring and summer

How to grow

Cultivation

Best in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil but will grow in any, moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged soils. Full sun or partial shade is best but shade is tolerated

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in late winter or early spring or propagate by stem-tip cuttings in spring or late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Garden edging
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering unless seed is required. Cut back after flowering in summer

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and violet gall midge

Diseases

May be subject to powdery mildews, pansy leaf spot, a virus and a rust

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