Is January-flowering violet unusual?

Sweet violets growing in the wild woods seldom produce a blossom before February and, even then, only during unseasonably mild spells. Garden varieties, however, are in the habit of flowering sporadically for much of the winter.
One of the most popular old ones, Viola odorata ‘Amiral Avellan’, produces fragrant blooms from November through to May and was once widely grown for commercial violet production.
If you have sweet violets in your garden and would like to ensure winter flowers for the house, lift a few and grow them on in a cold frame or put a cloche over them. You can also lift them, pot them up in a large alpine pan and bring them indoors.
The more tender, double flowered Parma violets – varieties such as ‘Duchesse de Parme’ or ‘Conte di Brazza’ – do best grown in a cold frame and, if kept just frost-free, will produce a succession of intensely perfumed flowers.
Sweet violet nurseries are few and far between these days, but the old family firm Groves specialises in them. They’re based at Bridport, Dorset and you can order online at www.grovesnurseries.co.uk