Botanical name: Viola tricolor.

Botanical name: Viola tricolor.
Attributes: Sorbet violas are like ice cream; you always wish there were more. The plant features a profusion of small white flowers with a purple cap that bloom all fall and then again in early spring. Very cold-tolerant and easy to grow, violas make great additions to beds or containers.
Bloom color: White with a purple cap; plus a wide range of colors is available in the sorbet series.
Bloom time: September through November and March through May.
Culture: Purchase blooming plants with a healthy root system. Plant in full sun in fertile, humus-rich soil. Water regularly and fertilize at time of planting with a 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer. Water well before winter freeze and after the ground is completely frozen, and mulch up to the crown of the plant with pine bark nuggets. Water during the winter if there is lack of snow or rain. Plants will grow as soon as the ground thaws in spring and bloom until it gets hot.
Landscaping tips: Plant violas over beds of spring-blooming bulbs such as yellow daffodils, pink hyacinth, red tulips and yellow crocus. Coconut Duet works well with rose snapdragons, yellow linaria and white alyssum.
Cost: Up to $4, depending on size of pot or number of plants in a pack. Available at local nurseries and garden centers.
Source: Powell Gardens