Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' (Prostrate Blue Violet) Unity Grown

Viola walteri 'Silver Gem,' is an ornamental cultivar of prostrate blue violet, a low-growing violet species from the American southeast with blue-green leaves and small pale violet flowers in the late spring and early summer. The 'Silver Gem' cultivar improves upon the aesthetics of the straight species with its silvery-blue hued leaves, adding even more striking color to the shade landscape, and working beautifully as a groundcover selection in masses; prostrate blue violet's semi-evergreen foliage also gives it a ton of multi-season interest, with silver leaves taking on deeper red-purple hues in the fall and winter, and occasionally persisting through to spring.

Performing best in shade or part shade environments, as is found in their native woodland habitats, Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' is grows only 3-5" tall, spreading up to 10-15" wide in small mats without becoming aggressive. Violet flowers are especially attractive to butterflies and bumblebees, and the plant's silvery leaves are resistant to deer and rabbit damage, as well as drought once established. 'Silver Gem' will grow best in locations with well-drained, medium to dry soils, and tolerates both alkalinity and acidity in the soil.

This selection of Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' was grown from the ground up, here at Unity Church Hill Nursery.