The plant, which will be discussed in the article, has many popular names: horse hooves, duckweed, garden, fragrant or English violet. This flower attracts attention with its wonderful small purple inflorescences with a pleasant delicate aroma. With its flowering, this plant pleases the eye both in spring (in April) and at the end of summer.
After reading the article, you can learn about the features of growing fragrant violet, about growing conditions, about caring for it, etc.
History
Cultivate violet began in Scotland in the XVI century. Depending on the locality and climatic conditions, various types of these plants subsequently began to be bred. The first violet grown in Russia was the Altai violet, which was brought to St. Petersburg in the 18th century by P. S. Pallas (a famous botanist). By the end of the 19th century, the world learned about the Wittrock violet (garden pansies), which absorbed all the most charming qualities of the Altai, tricolor and yellow varieties.
Then new species and varieties began to appear, including perennial gardenfragrant violet.
Types of violets
Today, the choice of violets is huge and varied. In recent years, many amazingly beautiful varieties and hybrids have been created on the basis of various natural forms. In total, more than 500 species of this plant grow throughout the world. However, only a few of the perennial species listed below are of particular interest in commercial floriculture.
- Violet tricolor - the same pansies that grow in the vast fields of the European part of Russia. Since ancient times, it has also been called the flower of the Trinity. In gardens, it can be used as a biennial and annual plant. Purple flowers have yellow lower petals, which are decorated with dark stripes at the base, as well as a dark border around the edge.
- Altai violet is found in nature in Kazakhstan and Western Siberia. Single flowers (diameter 3 cm) are located on long stems. Blue-violet flowers have a yellow spot in the center, and beige or white flowers have blue stripes on the lower petals.
- Wittrock violet or garden pansies. This species has a huge number of varieties that differ in the shape of the bush and flowers, as well as in the shades of inflorescences.
- Royal fragrant violet is a perennial herbaceous plant found in deciduous forests. Preferably refers to such places of growth as glades and mountain slopes, but it is also widely used in garden plots. More information about this species is presented later in the article.
- Violet horned –perennial, growing to a height of 25 centimeters. Flowers up to 5 centimeters in diameter can be purple, yellow, lilac and blue. The name is associated with the presence of a spur in the form of a horn on the back of the flower.
- Dog violet is a perennial violet with flowers of white, blue or lilac shades (diameter 2.5 cm). They are located in the axils of the leaves. The bush is more spreading than the Altai violet.
Description of fragrant violet, photo
The leaves of this violet have a beautiful shape - in the form of a heart. They are either collected in basal rosettes, or arranged in a regular order. Small flowers (2 cm in diameter) can be simple or double, and they are located one at a time on the stem, while the lower petals are larger in size than the upper ones. They show a kind of growth. The shades of flowers of this species are very diverse: from pale blue to burgundy and even black, with multi-colored splashes.
The flowering period is about 20 days, but they can bloom under favorable conditions and a second time, in the fall. Thanks to the creeping shape of the stems, this violet gives good roots and takes root well. Reproduction occurs by dividing the bush (from the age of three) and seeds. If there are queen cells on the plant, you can also resort to the vegetative method of reproduction.
Perennial fragrant violet is widely popular due to its high content of essential oils and surprisingly pleasant smell.
Distribution
This is a small perennial herbaceous plant,distributed in Europe, in Asia, in the northern territories of Africa. In the vastness of Russia, it can be found in the European part and in the Caucasus.
Scented violet prefers deciduous forests. He loves edges, clearings and forms picturesque dense thickets that cover the soil with a dense beautiful carpet.
Cultural Forms
The most common and popular varieties:
- Coeur d'Alsace - decorative form with pink inflorescences;
- Bechtles Ideal - violet with large blue flowers;
- Queen Charlotte - a plant (hybrid) with large lilac flowers;
- Foxbrook Cream - a violet with white flowers and a yellow tint of the core;
- Red Charm is a perennial violet that has lilac buds with a burgundy core (suitable for growing at home).
Growing conditions
Each type of violet has its own characteristics and conditions of detention, but there are main and general recommendations for planting.
- Scented violet, like other species, loves slightly acidic soil.
- In autumn, you should dig up the area intended for planting this plant, making humus. Ordinary superphosphate can also be added to the soil, taking into account the recommendations on the product packaging.
- With the advent of spring, the soil must be dug up again to loosen the soil.
- Violets growing in full sun should be slightly shaded by neighboring taller plants, especially inperiod after landing. Of course, you should not plant a violet in the shade and partial shade, since it is sunlight that ensures the abundant flowering of the plant and its protection from slugs.
You can plant rooted seedlings purchased at the store. But you can also sow the seeds in early spring. The exceptions are annual hybrids and varieties that are recommended to be grown using seedlings.
Methods of reproduction
Fragrant violet reproduces, as noted above, by seeds and vegetatively. It should be noted that a flower grown from seeds is stronger and more resistant to diseases.
Seeds immediately after ripening (otherwise there will be practically no germination) can be planted in autumn both on beds and in prepared boxes. In April, sprouts will appear, and in May, the grown seedlings need to be planted in a permanent place. Vegetative propagation occurs by child lateral rosettes or by dividing the bushes.
Violet bushes of this species are quite compact, in this regard, they need to be planted at a distance of about 15 cm from each other.
Landing
Growing fragrant violets from seeds is one of the most common ways. It is important to note that the site for planting should be chosen in such a way that the plant is provided with good lighting in the morning and is in partial shade during the day. Seeds are planted in open ground in spring. In areas with colder climatic conditions, you first need to grow seedlings at home, and plant them in open ground in May.
Seedlings of fragrant violets are grown from seeds in the same way as many other flowers. This is usually done in early March. It is necessary to lay a layer of drainage in prepared containers, and cover it with fertile light earth on top. It will be useful to water the soil with potassium permanganate, which will protect the plant from certain diseases. Seeds should be lightly sprinkled with earth, sprayed with warm water and covered with a film on top. Containers must be installed in a dark and warm place. Condensation from the film must be removed.
When seedlings appear, they should be provided with sunlight. The air temperature should be no more than 10 ° C (so that the plant does not stretch). It is not necessary to allow excessive moisture and overdrying of the soil so that the seedlings are not damaged by the black leg. It is also necessary to dive the plant to increase its growth. Feeding with a solution of mineral fertilizers will help the root system develop well and get stronger.
Violet in the garden should be planted along the edges of flower beds or under trees. At home, it can be planted in containers or other containers, and then placed on a loggia or balcony.
Caring for violets
In order for the flowers not to shrink, violets need to be well watered, especially on dry days. Fragrant violet, like other varieties of this plant, does not like fresh organic matter, therefore it is better to enrich it with peat, rotted manure and mineral fertilizers (for example, double superphosphate). Periodic weeding and loosening of the soil is one of the prerequisitesproper plant care. Also, with the constant removal of faded flowers, the bush will bloom much longer.
In dry times, the flower may be attacked by a spider mite, which will certainly lead to lightening and drying of the leaves. To avoid this, you should try to spray the underside of the leaves daily.
It is advisable to replace flowers every 3-4 years with newer ones. Otherwise, the bushes will grow and, oppressing each other, will stop blooming. The violet of the species in question is a ground cover plant that can perfectly complement any landscape design. The plant blooms well with constant feeding and watering.
In conclusion about the benefits of the plant
Scented violet is widely used in medicine. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and laxative effects. In addition, it has a calming effect and promotes the removal of s alts from the body. Plant remedies are also used in the treatment of chronic and acute bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, whooping cough, etc. Violet is useful for insomnia, nervous excitement, hysteria, and palpitations. Infusions are used even for cancer of the stomach and throat.
Infusions are also used as an external remedy for inflammatory processes in the mouth and throat, as well as for herpes.
From the leaves and flowers of violets, an essential oil is obtained, from which perfumes and other perfumes are made. The same oil promotes good cleansing of pores, treatment of veins and improvement of blood circulation.
