Product Details
Each soft yellow bloom of Viola 'Etain' looks like it has been hand-painted with a lavender edge. The lightly scented flowers appear all summer, held well above clumps of bright green leaves. It's one of the prettiest Violas.
The genus Viola contains about 400-600 species, many of which readily cross-pollinate. Botanists continue to untangle Viola genetics, but that doesn’t prevent us from enjoying their cheerful presence in our cool-season gardens and containers. Most are herbaceous annuals, biennials, or perennials originating in temperate zones or high-elevation tropics globally.
Garden-variety Viola species are informally grouped as Violets, Violas, or Pansies. All bloom in cool weather, but vary in hardiness, longevity, heat tolerance, size, habit, and color. Violets are cold-hardy clumping, semi-evergreen perennials with small flowers in spring. Violas are less hardy, rangier, showier, and longer blooming, usually with clear, solid colors. Modern breeders have created compact, ornate Violas that resemble diminutive Pansies, confusing the line between the two. The varieties we offer are reliably perennial for us. Strikingly colorful, large-flowered Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are quite short-lived, tender perennials, usually grown as annuals (“winter annuals” in hot climates). They acquired their astonishing range of colors and patterns from complex crosses between Violas such as Viola cornuta, V. tricolor, V. altaica, and V. lutea.
For more information on the differences between these groups, click Growing Guide.
Shipping
HOW PLANTS ARE SHIPPED
The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.
WHEN WE SHIP
We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. We also ship a wide range of containers and planters, tools, supplies, fertilizers, garden wear, garden decor items, as well as indoor decorations like wreaths and dried bouquets when available. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the green Shipping Details box for each item. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at the expected time of delivery.
OUR GUARANTEE
We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at [email protected]. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.
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Good plants but received in poor condition 
A viewer from VA
18 of 20 people found this review helpful. Do you? yes no Certified buyer
Exquisite fragrance 
A viewer from NY
Beautiful prolific bloomer
Stephanie from Northern NJ
Viola Etain 
Jess from Mid-west Ohio
Growing guide
Latin Name Pronunciation: vie-oh' luh
Violas
Violas look like mini Pansies in simpler dress and their sweet “faces” are no less charming. They’re more heat tolerant and floriferous than Pansies and brave spring gales with aplomb. These rhizomatous, spreading perennials of variable hardiness sometimes remain evergreen. Charming little Johnny-jump-ups (V. tricolor) often act like annuals, blooming throughout spring and summer, delightfully self-sowing, after which they fade away. On the other hand, we grow Viola cornuta cultivars and hybrids because they thrive in temperate zone gardens for years. Lovely in containers, Violas add pizzazz to the spring garden, combining beautifully with spring bulbs or cool-weather blooming Snapdragons and Calendulas.
Light: Full sun is preferred in cooler areas; part shade, preferably in the afternoon, in hotter zones within their range.
Watering: Violas have moderate water needs and bloom best with regular watering. Avoid overhead irrigation.
Fertilizer: Compost is always welcome. A light application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer worked into the soil in spring and again in late summer encourages plants to keep blooming.
Soil: Humus-rich soil that retains moisture, preferably on the slightly acidic side. A thin mulch layer of organic material such as shredded bark or pine needles is beneficial to preserve soil moisture and protect shallow roots from excessive heat or cold.
Pests/Diseases: Fungal leaf diseases are possible; avoid overhead irrigation.
Seasonal Care: Pinch spent flowers to encourage ongoing blooms. Once weather gets hot or plants get leggy, cut plants back to the first set of leaves and fertilize to revive. In the hottest zones, where Violas are grown as annuals because they can’t take the heat, pull up and discard plants when they lose their good looks. Plants grown in containers can be moved to more shade if they sulk in summer and overwintered in an unheated shed or garage.
Violets
Violets are hardy, long-lasting clump-forming perennials delightful in woodland gardens. Different species bear small, mostly spring-blooming purple, blue, white or yellow flowers, some freckled or splotched, with two petals facing upward and three facing down. Later blooms hidden under the foliage self-pollinate without opening. North America hosts about 200 native species, which are important nectar plants for pollinators and the host plant for Fritillary butterflies. Winter hardiness and heat tolerance varies between species, some being hardy to Zone 3, some with heat tolerance to Zones 8 or 9. Plant in the woodland garden, along a path, as a groundcover under shrubs, or in a rock garden.
Light: Most prefer dappled or part shade, especially in hotter climates. Some species, particularly Viola pedata tolerate or prefer full sun.
Watering: Even moisture for many Violet species, dry to medium moisture for Viola pedata.
Fertilizer: An annual application of compost is beneficial. To increase plant vigor, if desired, work a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer into the soil with a very light hand in spring. Do not fertilize Viola pedata.
Soil: Many Violets are woodland species that prefer moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils. Viola pedata, native to gravelly or sandy areas, prefers poor soil with sharp drainage such as in rock gardens.
Pests/Diseases: Generally pest- and disease-resistant. Some species are susceptible to crown rot in poorly drained soils.
Seasonal Care: Violets require little care.
Viburnum carlesii Spice Baby™
