Viola cornuta

‘Bowles Black’

BLACK DONKEY EARS

Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’
BLACK DONKEY EARS

Dear little Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’ has been a garden favourite since it was first introduced in 1901.
It is named after the esteemed plantsman E.A. Bowles, who championed all things miniature, sweet and demure; and his Black Donkey Ears has never lost popularity with gardeners since.

Cute black velvet blooms with miniature donkey ears

Mr. Bowles would have been very proud.
Because ‘Bowles Black’ covers itself with cute little velvety black blooms, each sporting two jaunty top petals like miniature donkey ears, and a glimmering yellow eye striped with indigo.
On mass they are utterly charming and cheeky, and produce a sweet, gentle scent.

Long, repeat & abundant blooming

‘Bowles Black’ plants are long blooming from early spring well into summer, and then again in early autumn on into winter.
While each flower is cute and small, every plant makes up for small size with abundant quantity.
Satisfying everything that Mr. Bowles loved.

Sweet little black flowers for garden & vase

It is easy to pick a handful of Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’ and fill a small vase.
And the velvet black flowers look especially well contrasting with silver foliage.
So try them in the garden beside silver-foliaged plants like Stachys (Lamb’s Ears) or Artemisia.

Delicious & decorative edible flowers

Flowers are also edible with a sweet flavour.
So they make striking decoration for cakes, mixed into green salads, stir-fries, fruit salads and cool drinks; or just as an unusual black, edible garnish.

Hardy & easily grown in a wide range of areas

Hardy little Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’ thrives in a wide range of positions, from Partial Shade in hotter districts, to Full Sun in milder summer climates.
It performs like a trooper in soil enriched with compost or humus, loves mulch, and flowers its head off from spring to winter.

Sow as an edible flower in the veggie patch

They are also charming in decorative pots or sown as an edible flower in the veggie patch.

Pollinator friendly

And they make great companion plants in the vegetable or fruit garden, as they haul in the bees and friendly pollinators with their abundant, long flowering and sweet nectar.

Water-wise & frost hardy

‘Bowles Black’ is soundly frost hardy, and can easily tolerate temperatures to below -20C.
It can also thrive on a minimum of additional water, especially if it is grown in soil with some extra compost or mulch.

Quick & easy from seed to flower

Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’ is very quick and easy to raise from seed to flowering.
So you can have flowers in as little as 14 weeks from sowing the seed.
Once established will also happily self-sow to fill corners and cracks in the garden design each year. Volunteer seedlings are easy to transplant if you wish to start a new colony elsewhere.

Deer & rabbit resistant

Deer and rabbits do not usually like the taste of Viola cornuta.

Resilient & low maintenance bloomer

15cm. High mound of foliage, with the black flowers sitting boldly on top.
20cm. approx. Wide foliage mound.
Self-sows for future generations.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow seeds of Viola cornuta ‘Bowles Black’ in winter and early spring for spring-summer flowers; or in summer for an autumn show.
Seeds may be scattered directly in the garden / or sown indoors for maximum and early, quick plants. 

Indoors for early quick plants: First sow the seed in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently press the seeds onto the surface of the mix, to ensure good contact.

Then barely cover the seed, because light helps germination of this plant.
You can use sieved mix, fine grit, fine vermiculite, or washed sand to sprinkle over the seeds.

Now stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath.
So the moisture percolates up through the mix from the bottom to thoroughly moisten the mix throughout.
Soak for a short time until moisture appears on the surface of the mix, and then remove and drain.
The mix needs to be moist throughout, but not wet.

Seeds sprout in a warm place

Then place the moist, sown punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sun).

Temperatures of 18-22°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a temperature-controlled heat mat if you have one to encourage rapid germination, but it is not essential. A warm, well-lit corner is also fine as these seeds are very willing and quick germinators.

Adding a clear plastic cover helps to retain moisture in the punnet.
And continue to keep the punnet moist by spraying the surface of the mix a fine spray water bottle, or re-soaking in the water bath, as required.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 4-7 days.

Seed Count: 50 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/