Viola koreana Mars

Viola Koreana 'Mars' is a lovely compact perennial whose colourful foliage is its greatest asset. Clearly heart-shaped with a pointed tip, the semi-evergreen leaves are a beautiful pale green and adorned with purple veins. It is a hardy plant that thrives in full sun or partial shade in a soil with a tendency to be moist.

Viola 'Mars' has been on the market since the end of the last century. So it is a newcomer. It is composed of a beautiful clump of leaves, almost flat at the end of a long petiole. This petiole, of a plum colour, seems to extend onto the lamina as a central vein of the same colour. It is then a network of secondary veins that runs through a beautiful pale green background, providing it with relief and contrast. The shades vary in intensity and nuances: burgundy, garnet, purple, spreading more or less widely on either side of the veins. The leaves, which are semi-evergreen or evergreen in certain climates, are clearly heart-shaped with a serrated margin. The flowering is, on the contrary, more discreet. It takes place from April to June and consists of small flowers ranging from blue to mauve, often hidden under the leaves.

Viola Koreana 'Mars' is ideal for bordering a pathway or punctuating the front of flowerbeds, thanks to its versatile size, 20 cm (8in) tall and 30 cm (12in) wide. It pairs well with Heucheras and perennial Geraniums, complementing their range of colours. Its palette blends with roses, purples, and greens in spring and summer flowerbeds.