{"title":"Viola","description":"\u003cp\u003eCharming little flowers in spring over heart-shaped leaves. Easy and lovely in part shade.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"viola-labradorica","title":"Viola labradorica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eViola labradorica\u003c\/em\u003e: Dark Leaves Dressed to Match the Flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis violet tints its little heart-shaped leaves purple, darkest in cool weather and shade, like it's sulking stylishly. Mauve-purple flowers pop up in spring and sometimes again in fall. MOODY? YES. CHARMING? ALSO YES.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eViola labradorica\u003c\/em\u003e of gardens (now generally treated as \u003cem\u003eViola riviniana\u003c\/em\u003e Purpurea Group)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purple Labrador Violet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5–10 cm (2–4 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15–20 cm (6–8 in), slowly filling in by self-sowing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small mauve-purple violets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring (May to June), often with a few flowers again in fall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small, heart-shaped leaves tinted purple, darkest in cool weather and shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purple-tinted leaves, gentle self-seeder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use it as a small-scale groundcover at the front of a shady bed, under shrubs, along a woodland path or between stepping stones. It also tucks nicely into shady rock gardens and the edges of containers. It self-seeds readily, so expect little seedlings around the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Let Labrador violet carpet a moist, shady bed under opal lungwort, a crested fern and a dark ligularia. \u003cem\u003ePulmonaria Opal\u003c\/em\u003e opens pale opal-blue bells at 30 to 35 cm in April and May. \u003cem\u003eAthyrium filix-femina 'Victoriae'\u003c\/em\u003e adds crested lady fern fronds at 45 to 60 cm. \u003cem\u003eLigularia 'Midnight Lady'\u003c\/em\u003e brings dark leaves and golden daisies at 90 to 100 cm from July to September. \u003cem\u003eHakonechloa 'Aureola'\u003c\/em\u003e edges the bed at 30 to 46 cm with gold-striped blades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in part shade or shade in average to moist soil that drains well. It likes humus-rich ground, so add compost or leaf mould if your soil is poor. Water during long dry spells, especially in its first season. There's little to do. Tidy up any tired leaves in early spring. It seeds itself gently around the bed. Pull or move the seedlings if they pop up where you don't want them. Slugs sometimes nibble the leaves in damp spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e True \u003cem\u003eViola labradorica\u003c\/em\u003e is a small wild violet of northern North America, including Labrador, which gave it its name. The purple-leaved plant sold in nurseries under that name usually turns out to be a form of the European dog violet, \u003cem\u003eViola riviniana\u003c\/em\u003e Purpurea Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e It gently self-seeds into the gaps, so the shade fills in without effort. LET IT SULK ALL OVER THE BED.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ground Covers","offers":[{"title":"Tray of 15 Plants (10cm Pots) \/ Purple \/ 4","offer_id":67851586306326,"sku":"VIOLLA10","price":134.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Violalabradorica.png?v=1793797412"},{"product_id":"viola-sororia","title":"Viola sororia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eViola sororia\u003c\/em\u003e: Blue Violets You'll Happily Let Run Wild\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCommon blue violet is the neighbourhood's favourite gossip. Purple-blue flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and somehow it knows everybody, from fritillary caterpillars to the first bees of spring. NATIVE AND ALWAYS IN THE LOOP.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eViola sororia\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Common Blue Violet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15–25 cm (6–10 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30–75 cm (1–2.5 ft), spreading by rhizomes and seed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purple-blue to violet with a pale throat, sometimes white with purple veins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring (April to June), with occasional flowers later in the season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Green, heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Larval host for fritillary butterflies, edible leaves and flowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use it as a groundcover under trees and shrubs, at a woodland edge, in a native or pollinator garden, or in a \"bee lawn\" where a little wildness is welcome. It's good for filling ground where nothing else wants to grow, so plant it where it can roam rather than in a tidy rock garden. It self-seeds freely and spreads into a patch, so expect it to show up nearby.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant common blue violet in a sunny or part-shade native bed with strawberries, columbines and asters. \u003cem\u003eFragaria virginiana (9cm)\u003c\/em\u003e carpets the ground at 10 to 23 cm with white flowers and small red berries. \u003cem\u003eAquilegia canadensis\u003c\/em\u003e adds nodding red and yellow columbines at 30 to 75 cm in May and June. \u003cem\u003eSymphyotrichum novae-angliae\u003c\/em\u003e brings purple New England asters at 90 to 180 cm in August and September. \u003cem\u003eDeschampsia cespitosa\u003c\/em\u003e adds fine blades and airy flower clouds at 60 to 90 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in average to moist soil in sun or part shade. It grows in clay and handles almost any soil that isn't bone dry. Water in its first season. After that it largely looks after itself. It spreads by short rhizomes and by seed, including seed from small hidden flowers that never open. Deadheading won't stop those, so plan to pull extra seedlings where you don't want them. No cutting back is needed. Divide or move clumps in spring or fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e The common blue violet is native across eastern and central North America, including southern Canada, and it's a host plant for fritillary butterflies, whose caterpillars feed on its leaves. Its leaves and flowers have long been eaten in salads or turned into candied flowers and jellies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Edible flowers and leaves, deer resistant and happy in sun or light shade. Toss a few in the salad. FANCY BRUNCH, BACKYARD PRICES.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Perennials","offers":[{"title":"1 Gallon Pot \/ Violet \/ 3","offer_id":67851586339094,"sku":"VIOLSO01","price":21.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Violasororia.png?v=1793797747"}],"url":"https:\/\/blacksheepperennials.com\/collections\/viola.oembed","provider":"Black Sheep Perennials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}