Expert Advice

How to Grow Violets

Expert Advice

Rupert Foxton-Smythe
August 28, 2025
0

Discover the secrets of growing violets successfully, from choosing the right soil to protecting them from frost. Happy gardening!

Some like to grow violets as cut flowers, but not every soil is suitable for violet growing.

Key Information:

Not every soil is suitable for violet growing. Light soils tend to get too dry, while heavy soils may be too wet. A medium type of soil is required. Violets dislike acid soils, so lime must be applied. Choose a situation with good protection from cold winds on the east and north side.

Light soils tend to get too dry
Heavy soils may be too wet
Violets dislike acid soils

Some like to grow violets as cut flowers, but not every soil is suitable for violet growing. Light soils have a tendency to get too dry and make the plants liable to red spider. Heavy soils may be too wet. It is a medium type of soil that is required. See that the land concerned is well drained, if heavy, and properly enriched with plenty of compost if light. Violets dislike acid soils and so lime must be applied. Choose a situation where there is good protection on the east and north side to keep out cold winds.

Planting Violets

Having forked in sedge peat lightly or even well-rotted compost, get the soil down to a very fine tilth in the spring and plant with a trowel. In the south much planting is done in April but in the north it will often be delayed until mid-May. It is usual to allow 350 mm (14 in) from plant to plant, though double varieties may be planted in the 300 mm (1 ft) square principle.

Care and Maintenance

Keep the violet beds clean and free from weeds all the year round by mulching the ground where they are growing with compost or sedge peat, and be prepared to water with the hose with a good deal of pressure behind, so as to flood and keep the foliage damp. The earliest of the plants should begin to flower towards the end of September, and from early November onwards, it is worthwhile covering the violets with cloches or frames.

In the north, it is usually necessary to lift the plants with a ball of soil to their roots and plant them in a frame 600 mm (2 ft) square. The frame should face south. It should be filled with soil to 250 mm (10 in) from the top, which should run parallel to the frame light. After planting, soak the ground well, but do not cover it over with the frame lights until the frost appears.

Propagation

In the spring, runners will have grown on the flowering plants. These root in a similar manner to strawberries. When rooted, sever them from their parent plants and put out in their permanent position.

Sometimes runners are removed in September, and these are planted out in cold frames or under cloches 50 mm (2 in) apart. They are given shade until they have established themselves. Such plants are ready to put out in their permanent position in March in the south and in May in the north.

Recommended Varieties

Admiral Avalon – a reddish-purple variety.

Governor Herrick – a deep purple, large-flowered variety, with no scent.

Marie Louise – a double mauve variety, with good fragrance.

Comte de Brazza – considered the best double white variety.

More Information on HOW TO GROW VIOLETS

Violets are not only beautiful flowers but also require specific soil conditions to thrive. While light soils tend to dry out quickly, making the plants susceptible to red spider, heavy soils may become too wet for violets. It is crucial to find a well-drained medium type of soil for successful violet growing. Additionally, violets dislike acidic soil, so the application of lime is necessary.

When preparing the soil for violets, it is recommended to incorporate sedge peat or well-rotted compost. By creating a fine tilth in the spring, the soil becomes ideal for planting violets using a trowel. In regions with a warmer climate, planting is often done in April, while colder regions may delay planting until mid-May.

To ensure healthy growth and blooming, it is important to keep the violet beds clean and free from weeds. Mulching the ground with compost or sedge peat helps retain moisture, and regular watering with sufficient pressure keeps the foliage damp. Cloches or frames can be used to protect violets from frost, especially in colder regions where lifting the plants and planting them in a frame may be necessary.

Propagation of violets can be done through runners that grow on the flowering plants. These runners root similarly to strawberries and can be severed from the parent plants and placed in their permanent positions. Alternatively, runners can be removed in September and planted in cold frames or under cloches, providing shade until they establish themselves.

With their wide variety of colors and scents, violets offer options for every gardener’s preference. Some notable varieties include Admiral Avalon, a reddish-purple violet, Governor Herrick, a deep purple variety with large flowers and no scent, and Marie Louise, a double mauve violet with a delightful fragrance. Comte de Brazza is regarded as the best double white violet.

Remember, the success of growing violets lies not only in the proper soil care but also in understanding their specific needs. Happy gardening!

About The Author:

Rupert Foxton-Smythe

Horticulturist and avid plant enthusiast.

Rupert Foxton-Smythe is a seasoned horticulturist and avid plant enthusiast with over three decades of experience in the field of botany. As a leading expert at Houseplant Guru, Rupert brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for all things green.