Viola elatior (tall violet) — perennial herb

Overview

Viola elatior is a perennial herb in the genus Viola, part of the Violaceae family. Viola elatior grows best in partial shade, and tolerates peaty and fen soil soils and acidic to neutral pH. It is native to Europe & W Asia.

About the genus

Viola, commonly known as the violets, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. It is the largest genus in the family, containing over 680 species. Most species are found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere; however, some are also found in widely divergent areas such as Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes.

Wikipedia contributors, "Viola (plant)", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Viola (plant)

In the garden

Viola elatior is a perennial herb belonging to the Violaceae, native to Europe and western Asia. It is associated with fen habitats and other peaty, moisture-retentive ground where soil pH ranges from acidic to neutral. In the UK this means recreating a consistently damp, low-oxygen substrate rather than a free-draining border. Position Viola elatior in partial shade where the root zone remains moist to wet; morning sun with afternoon shelter or light dappled shade suits it. Use peaty, fen-type compost or a peat-rich soil mix that holds water while allowing some surface aeration. Do not plant on dry, chalky slopes or in standard garden loam without adding peat or a moisture-retentive amendment. This violet is best used where conditions can remain reliably damp: in fen-style plantings, wet borders with a high organic content or the peat edge of a marginal bed. Its flowering occurs in April, May, June, September and October, so expect a spring display and a second flush in early autumn when soils stay peat-rich and moist.