Viola labradorica - Labrador Violet

Family:	Violaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.1
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:
Range:	North-eastern N. America - Labrador, south to the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire and New York.

Viola labradorica (Labrador Violet) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.1m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 2and is vunerable to frost.
Labrador Violet will flower in October to November. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Labrador Violet will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
Labrador Violet prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Labrador Violet can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Woods and grassy places[187].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

Cultivation Details

Cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Succeeds in dense shade[197]. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. Hardy to about -25°c[187]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[62, 85, 159].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[105]. A mild flavour, though the leaves soon become quite tough[K]. The leaves make a very acceptable addition to salads[K]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[85, 159]. A tea can be made from the leaves[85].

• Flowers -
• Leaves -
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A good ground cover plant, fast spreading but slow to thicken up and may need weeding for the first year or so[197]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[208].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

'Purpurea' - A purple-leaved cultivar[200].

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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