Viola corsica

‘Little Gem’

CORSICA GEM VIOLET

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’
CORSICA GEM VIOLET

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ is a little beauty from Corsica and Sardinia.

Blooms its socks off for months

‘Little Gem’ is a gem indeed.
Because it blooms its socks off from early spring, right through summer, and on into autumn.
Should the flowering start to slacken – just shear  the whole plant back by 2/3 and it will bounce into yet another ball of flowers.

Profuse blooms cover the whole plant for months

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ is not only renowned for its long blooming season, but also for the profusion of blooms it puts up.
You can rarely see the foliage between the flowers from spring right through into autumn.

Dear whiskery faces with long, drooping bottom lips 

The blooms of ‘Little Gem’ are quite large for such a diminutive plant (and of course there are so many flowers creating a ball of colour).
Each face has dark whiskers on rich purple petals, with Mickey Mouse Ears and a long drooping bottom lip, as if they are pouting at you.
Blooms also wink with a bright little yellow eye surrounded by a frosty pale ring at the centre of the petals.

Perfect picked for a fragrant posy

Utterly charming flowers, with sweet scent, making a delightful small vase when picked as a posy.
You can imagine them adorning the bosoms of Edwardian ladies at a ball.

Easy groundcover for under trees & shrubs

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ makes a colourful, low groundcover under trees and shrubs.
Where the foliage makes a dense carpet 15cm. high, that helps suppress weeds.
The rich colour of the flowers really lights up a gloomy place.

Water-wise groundcover for shade

‘Little Gem’ revels in the conditions under trees and shrubs, and requires only minimal water to thrive.
Growing easily in Dappled Light & Shade; Full Shade; or Morning Sun.
It is not a thirsty plant, and is perfectly able to cope with heat and periods of dry.
It is after all a native of rocky scrubland in Corsica and Sardinia, where the summers are hot and dry, while the winters are sharp and biting.

Delicious & decorative edible flowers
The blooms of Corsican Violet flowers are also edible.
With a sweet flavour as well as lovely fragrance and colour.
So they make pretty decoration for cakes, mixed into green salads, stir-fries, fruit salads and cool drinks; or just as a colourful garnish.

Deer resistant groundcover

However deer do not like the taste of Corsican Violets, so plants are usually deer resistant.

Pollinator friendly

Though our essential little friends, the flying pollinators, find the flowers a real nectar treat.
Bees are especially grateful for their long and profuse blooming.

Tough enough to tackle a wide range of soils

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ easily adjusts to a wide range of soil types – from sandy, gravel and rocky soils, through average garden loam.
They thrive and bloom better if they are not overfertilized and kept a little hungry.
Corsican Violets also tolerate a wide range of soil pH, from acid to alkaline.

Frost hardy

‘Little Gem’  is perfectly frost hardy and evergreen through winter.
However it resents being planted in wet and boggy spots, preferring to be on the drier side amongst the roots of other plants, or in a well drained, shaded pot.

Resilient & low maintenance

Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ creates a 10-15cm. High mound of foliage, with the flowers sitting perkily on top. Approx. 20cm. Wide.

Perennial & also self sows

While each plant is perennial, it also gently self-sows (not invasive). So it forms its thick carpet by gently sowing new babies each year.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Seeds of Viola corsica ‘Little Gem’ can be sown outdoors in late autumn / or in early spring.
Or sown indoors at any time when suitable temperatures can be provided.

Indoors for maximum & quick plants: First sow the seeds 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.

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.

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 with a fine spray water bottle, or re-soaking in the water bath, as required.

Seedlings often begin to emerge in approx. 7-21 days.
Do not discard the punnet too quickly, as it is normal for seeds to stagger their sprouting.

Seed Count: 25 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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