Persian Violet
Exacum affine. GENTIANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Persian Violet
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Persian violet in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Persian violet
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Persian violet
- Season of bloom and planting time for Persian violet
- When, how deep, and where to plant Persian violet
- How to plant Persian violet
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of Persian violet
- Landscape and container uses of Persian violet
- Comments about Persian violet and its features
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Growing Persian Violet
Several cultivars of branching, bushy annual or biennial herbs, to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. Opposite, shiny, green, oval, pointed leaves, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long.
Common cultivars include Exacum affine ‘Atrocaeruleum’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many blue violet, white, 5-petaled, fragrant flowers, to 1/2-in. (12-mm) wide, with bright yellow stamens in their centers, in summer–early autumn.
Best Climates
Plant as tender annual, zones 3–5; ground hardy, zones 6–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in partial shade, 6–8 in. (15–20 cm) apart, on top of soil. Start seed indoors 8 weeks before final frost for early blooms; transplant when frost hazard has passed. Sow seed of biennial cultivars for flowers the following season or plant nursery containers.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Drought tolerant when established. Fertilize every 2 weeks. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, containers, edgings in shade, small-space gardens. Good as houseplant. Aphid and fungal disease susceptible.