Viola Delft Blue - Pack of 6 Large Garden-Ready Plants

Create stunning displays with these exquisite Blue Delft violas, renowned for their delicate sky-blue petals and charming cottage garden appeal. This pack of six large, mature plants provides instant colour and elegance to your garden throughout the cooler months, offering exceptional hardiness and prolonged flowering performance.

Plant Description

Blue Delf violas showcase beautiful clear blue flowers with subtle darker veining and distinctive bright yellow centres. These compact perennials produce masses of small, delicate blooms that create a carpet of colour when planted en masse. Each plant arrives well-established with robust root systems and numerous flower buds, ready to deliver immediate garden impact. The neat, mounding habit and heart-shaped leaves provide an attractive backdrop to the continuous display of charming flowers.

Key Features

Exceptional Hardiness: Withstands harsh winter conditions better than most bedding plants

Continuous Flowering: Blooms prolifically from autumn through to late spring

Compact Growth: Perfect size for edging, rockeries, and small spaces

Self-Seeding: May naturalise in favourable conditions for future displays

Edible Flowers: Blooms are edible and perfect for garnishing salads and desserts

Fragrant Blooms: Sweet, subtle fragrance enhances garden atmosphere

Growing Requirements

Soil Conditions

Thrives in moist, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Tolerates a wide pH range from 6.0-7.5 but performs best in slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Appreciates humus-rich soil that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged.

Light Requirements

Performs excellently in partial shade to dappled sunlight. Can tolerate full sun in cooler climates but benefits from afternoon shade in warmer regions to prevent flower fading and extend blooming periods.

Spacing and Planting

Plant 10-15cm apart for dense coverage or 15-20cm apart for individual plant development. Set plants at the same depth as in their original containers and firm gently. Water thoroughly after planting to settle roots.

Care Instructions

Watering

Maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the growing season. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage strong root development. Avoid overhead watering which can promote fungal diseases, instead water at soil level.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4-6 weeks during active growth. A light application of bone meal at planting provides slow-release nutrition. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote foliage at the expense of flowers.

Maintenance

Regular deadheading encourages continuous blooming and prevents excessive self-seeding. Pinch or snip spent flowers just above the nearest leaf joint. Light pruning in early summer helps maintain compact growth.

Winter Protection

Extremely hardy and requires no special winter protection in most UK climates. In containers, move to sheltered positions during severe weather to protect roots from freezing.

Planting Suggestions

Woodland Gardens

Ideal for naturalising under deciduous trees and shrubs. Combines beautifully with spring bulbs and other woodland perennials for seasonal interest.

Container Displays

Perfect for window boxes, hanging baskets, and patio containers. Mix with contrasting colours like yellow or white violas for striking combinations.

Edging and Borders

Creates neat, colourful edges along pathways and flower borders. Excellent for filling gaps between larger perennials in mixed plantings.

Companion Plants

Partners wonderfully with primroses, polyanthus, forget-me-nots, sweet alyssum, and dwarf daffodils. Complements silver-leaved plants like dusty miller and pairs beautifully with other viola colours for rainbow effects.

Expected Performance

Mature Size: 10-15cm height, 15-20cm spread

Flowering Period: September through June in favourable conditions

Flower Size: 2-3cm diameter

Growth Habit: Low, spreading mounds with upright flowers

Seasonal Growing Guide

Autumn Planting

Ideal planting season when plants establish quickly in cooling temperatures. In flower at the time of supply and planting.

Winter Performance

Continues flowering through mild winter periods. Extremely frost-tolerant, surviving temperatures down to -15°C.

Spring Display

Finish flowering and self-seed readily for next year's display if allowed to set seed.

Summer Care

May reduce flowering in hot weather. Keep well-watered and consider light shade for continued performance.

Special Features

Culinary Uses

The flowers are completely edible with a mild, sweet flavour reminiscent of wintergreen. Perfect for crystallising, adding to salads, or freezing in ice cubes for drinks.

Wildlife Value

Early nectar source for emerging pollinators including bees and butterflies. The seeds attract small birds later in the season.

Historical Significance

Traditional cottage garden favourite, often called 'heartsease' in folk medicine and literature.

Growing Tips for Success

Start with good soil preparation by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure. Plant in groups of odd numbers for natural-looking displays. Allow some plants to self-seed for informal, cottage garden effects. Collect seeds in summer for sowing next season.

What's Included

Six robust Blue Delf viola plants in large tray of 6 plants, each with well-developed root systems and multiple flower buds. Plants arrive healthy, pest-free, and ready for immediate garden planting or container displays.