Viola x Etain

The perennial Viola 'Etain' is a pure marvel of delicacy, from its gently undulating flowers, a very soft buttery yellow bordered with lavender blue, to the sweet and sugary fragrance they exhale! This perennial has a short life in rich and loose soil, and is primarily intended for pots and containers in spring, in combination with bulbs, biennials, and other early perennials.

This hybrid of the horned violet (Viola cornuta), obtained in England, forms a spreading clump of dense evergreen foliage, with an ovate shape and crenate edges, bright green in colour, which is covered in flowers in spring and sometimes even in autumn. The 5-petaled flowers, typical of pansies and violas, have a soft pale yellow colour in the shade of 'churned butter', which lightens towards the edges outlined by a wide lavender blue border, highlighted by a small orange eye in the centre. About 5 cm (2in) wide, they have a sweet fragrance that fills the air when it is warm enough in the early days of spring. Viola 'Etain' is perennial in the garden in a damp position, in rich, light and humus-rich soil, in semi-shaded exposure, where it will form a clump of about 20 cm (8in) in height and width at maturity. Around mid-June, its main flowering is over and it will appreciate a 2/3 cut back followed by a good watering to encourage new growth and re-flowering. It is perfectly hardy even in mountainous regions.

Its spreading habit and early, bright and highly decorative flowering make the perennial pansy 'Etain' an ideal candidate for spring compositions in pots and containers that you can place on your patio, balconies, and window sills. Make sure to provide it with quality potting soil and a sunny to semi-shaded location, and don't forget to water and fertilise it even in winter! It will create charming combinations with other yellow or blue flowers, especially with small bulbs such as 'Tête-à-Tête' daffodils, scillas, grape hyacinths, etc.

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners. Upon receipt, transplant them as soon as possible, either in pots, containers, or directly in flower beds.