Viola rupestris

'Teesdale Violet'

Violaceae: A shy-flowering perennial to 10cm. found on hillside and ridged slopes, hillside broad-leaved forests, rocky outcrops. The flowers are light purple (occasionally white), to 1.5cm across, blooming from May–June. The leaves are kidney-shaped with shallowly rounded teeth. A rare plant in Britain, but significant populations of V. rupestris were discovered in the Craven Pennines by Roberts (1977). However, colonies were lost on Widdybank Fell (Durham) through erosion and when a reservoir was completed in 1970, and have been reduced at Arnside through trampling and under-grazing. Some remaining colonies, however, are very large. Contrary to some claims, it is not being ousted by the hybrid with V. riviniana on Long Fell. Native to Western Europe.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Best sown in the autumn in a cold frame, as the seed requires a period of cold stratification and the germination of stored seed can be erratic. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Succeeds in most soils but prefers a cool moist very well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun.

HARVESTED: 2018

APPROX. 50 SEEDS