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Herbaceous Perennial

Viola walteri 'Silver Gem'

violet 'Silver Gem'

A trailing, mat-forming evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial from the USA to around 10cm in height, with silver-green heart-shaped foliage and dark burgundy-red undersides. Small, blue to lavender purple flowers appear in the spring. An ideal variety for groundcover and for rock gardens

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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)

Botanical details

Family: Violaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen or Semi evergreen
Habit: Matforming
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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Gravel garden
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Ground cover

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering. After flowering cut back vigorous plants to keep compact

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, a virus and a rust

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