Viola ‘Purple Showers’
Blooming Time
Exposure
The hardiness of this pansy is impressive and so is its nice clean green foliage and compact habit. Its flowers, however, are in another stratosphere. How about a plant that completely disappears under bright purple flowers during May and June, then keeps flowering (not just sporadically) well into October. It really is remarkable, and deserves every one of the compliments that it receives from those who see it–which essentially is everyone. `Purple Showers’ is, predictably, a plant for high contrast, usually on a small to medium scale as an accent plant, edging, or small scale cover. It has long lived perennial qualities (now 3 years in our trial garden) but gives annuallike floral impact.
Details
Hardiness Zone:
Blossom Color:
Violet to Purple
Growth Habit:
Clump Forming
Max Height:
8"
Texture:
Recommended Spacing:
We sell this plant in these containers:
Special Characteristics
Features
Clean green foliage and compact habit with stupendous, bright-purple flowers from spring, during summer, and well into fall.
Landscape Value
Small scale ground cover, edging, accent, superb color impact.
Care
Watering:
`Purple Showers' Hardy Pansy is moderately drought tolerant but benefits from occasional watering, to maintain soil in a moist but not wet condition, during the summer months.
Fertilizing:
`Purple Showers' Hardy Pansy is a moderate feeder, benefiting from a couple of annual applications of slow release fertilizer. A spring application of a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) can be applied at a rate of about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet, and during early fall, an application of a 2-1-2 ratio (such as a 10-5-10) can be applied to encourage root development and cold hardiness.
Pruning:
`Purple Showers' Hardy Pansy is a deciduous plant (nonevergreen) and does not require pruning. It is perfectly acceptable to allow the dropped leaves to decompose and nourish the soil.