| We've all wished that Pansies were only as hardy as Violas, and that Violas were only as showy as Pansies . . . so imagine the excitement that greeted Skippy when it was trialed last season! Hands-down winner of the prestigious All-America Selection (the highest honor given to a seed variety in this country), this Viola cornuta looks like a Viola but has all the showy blooms, heat tolerance, and winter hardiness of a Viola! And did I mention that it REBLOOMS? One look at these flowers and you'd dismiss Skippy as a Pansy. They're fully 1 1/2 inches across (huge by Viola standards!), with base petals of bright violet and smaller inner petals of ruby-red and lemon-yellow, charmingly whiskered in brown or black. They arise ALL OVER this small plant, first in spring and then (if cut back after flowering) again in fall. It's a rare Viola that can survive both the cold winters and the long, hot, humid summers of the American south and southwest, but Skippy will do it -- with ease! Just 6 inches high and 8 inches wide, this evergreen groundcover simply covers itself with flowers. The blooms arise over a longer season than older V. cornuta varieties, too, giving you a few extra weeks of pleasure. Truly, Skippy is such an improvement over older varieties it might as well be a new species altogether! Skippy shows great winter hardiness (mulch it up well to help it along) and heat tolerance. This is a dependable, drop-dead gorgeous plant for garden or container. Don't miss the most exciting new introduction of 2006! Zones 6-9. Pkt is 25 seeds. |
