Viola 'Carousel'

RHS Plant Profile

viola 'Carousel'

Herbaceous Perennial

A low-growing, evergreen perennial, to about 15cm tall, producing fragrant, cream flowers edged with purple from spring to autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Violaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Viola can be annuals, biennials or deciduous or evergreen perennials, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and 5-petalled flowers of characteristic shape
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood tip cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Garden edging
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly and cut back in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and violet gall midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, pansy leaf spot, pansy downy mildew, a virus and a rust