Viola ‘Gem Heavenly Blue’

Viola cornuta

Features

  • Edible
  • Medium producer
  • Suitable for containers

Description

One of the first violas to flower in our patch, ‘Gem Heavenly Blue’ has an extended bloom window and a similar growth habit to ‘Gem Pink Antique’. Petite faces are a pale, metallic periwinkle-blue tone and are carried above the foliage in an upright growth habit. These little gems are self-cleaning—there is no need to deadhead old flowers. These sweet blooms remind us of forget-me-nots.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 12 to 14 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 80 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 4 to 6 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 8 to 12 weeks before last frost. Seeds require darkness to germinate, so cover lightly. Pansies can withstand a light frost, so cold-climate gardeners can pick a transplant date that is about 2 weeks before the last frost.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when the flowers are starting to open. Stems lengthen over time. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days.

Details

Description

One of the first violas to flower in our patch, ‘Gem Heavenly Blue’ has an extended bloom window and a similar growth habit to ‘Gem Pink Antique’. Petite faces are a pale, metallic periwinkle-blue tone and are carried above the foliage in an upright growth habit. These little gems are self-cleaning—there is no need to deadhead old flowers. These sweet blooms remind us of forget-me-nots.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 12 to 14 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 80 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 4 to 6 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 8 to 12 weeks before last frost. Seeds require darkness to germinate, so cover lightly. Pansies can withstand a light frost, so cold-climate gardeners can pick a transplant date that is about 2 weeks before the last frost.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when the flowers are starting to open. Stems lengthen over time. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.