Pansy
Sorbet XP Delft Blue is an F1 hybrid viola that brings early, prolific blooms to gardens and containers with striking blue flowers. This compact, bushy plant reaches maturity in just 60-70 days, making it ideal for gardeners who want color fast. Violas tolerate light frost, so you can plant them earlier in spring or extend your season into fall. The plants thrive in partial shade and fit beautifully into both garden beds and containers with just 6 inches of spacing.
Partial Shade
—
5-9
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
This is a new viola bred for speed and abundance, early flowering violas that bloom profusely from transplant onward. The Delft Blue coloring gives it a distinctive, classic appeal. Best of all, deadheading encourages continuous flowering throughout the season, so this viola rewards attention with more blooms. Its compact, bushy growth habit makes it especially valuable for tight spaces and container gardens where every inch counts.
Sorbet XP Delft Blue violas are excellent in containers and garden beds, where their compact form and profuse blooms brighten spaces from spring through frost. The fully open flowers are edible and can be harvested for garnishing dishes or floating in beverages. Long-stemmed cuts with at least one open bloom make striking, delicate bouquets for fresh flower arrangements.
Sow seeds 7-9 weeks before your planned transplant date. Cover seeds lightly and use bottom watering or misting to avoid displacing the fine seeds. Once the first true leaves appear, transplant seedlings into cell packs or larger containers. If you want blooming plants in cell packs at sale or transplant time, sow 8-9 weeks ahead instead.
After hardening off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, transplant when soil is workable in spring. Violas tolerate light frost, so you can plant earlier than tender annuals. Space plants 6 inches apart in garden beds or containers. In mild winter climates or protected tunnel environments, you can also sow in late summer or fall for winter-into-spring blooming.
Direct seeding is not recommended for this variety.
For edible flowers, harvest fully open blooms by cutting at the base of the stem. For cut flowers, cut stems that are long and have at least one open bloom per stem. Harvest in the morning when flowers are freshest, and use immediately or keep stems in cool water.
Deadheading is essential with Sorbet XP Delft Blue. Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season, this prevents the plant from exhausting itself with seed production.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.