Viola 'Avril Lawson' — Rosy's Favourite Viola and the Perfect Rose Companion
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There are plants that do a job, and then there are plants that do it beautifully. Viola 'Avril Lawson' falls firmly into the second category. Heart-shaped evergreen foliage creates a sublime carpet of green at ground level throughout the year, while gorgeous deep purple blooms with a small gold eye appear throughout the summer months — fragrant, generous, and utterly charming. It is, quite simply, one of Rosy's favourite Violas.
Why It's Special
'Avril Lawson' is a Viola of real character. Its flowers are sweetly scented — a quality that is increasingly rare in modern Viola selections — and its foliage is evergreen, providing year-round ground cover even when the flowers are not in season. The long flower stems make it particularly useful for cutting too — a few stems picked for a vase will fill a room with scent.
Listed in the RHS Plant Finder, 'Avril Lawson' is rarely offered — Hardy's is one of only three nurseries in the country where it can be found.
- Fragrant: Sweetly scented blooms — a rare and treasured quality in a Viola
- Foliage: Evergreen — provides year-round ground cover
- Flowering time: Summer months
- Habit: Spreading and clambering
- Long stems: Excellent for cutting and bringing indoors
- Height × Spread: 30cm × 60cm
- Soil: Any reasonably good soil
- Aspect: Sun or partial shade
- Availability: Listed in the RHS Plant Finder — one of only three UK suppliers
A Rosy Favourite
Rosy Hardy's fondness for 'Avril Lawson' has a very personal story behind it. The plant came to her from her sister-in-law Ann Liverman, a great plantswoman, and Rosy first encountered it clambering up through a hedge in Ann's garden — Dove Cottage in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It was exactly the kind of spontaneous, unplanned magic that makes a plant truly memorable. 'Avril Lawson' has been a Hardy family favourite ever since, and it is a fitting tribute to Ann that this Viola has found its way into so many gardens beyond her own.
'Avril Lawson' combines the kind of effortless charm that makes a plant indispensable: fragrance, a long season, beautiful evergreen foliage, and the ability to work harmoniously with everything around it. When Rosy recommends a plant, it has earned its place.
In the Garden
'Avril Lawson' is at its most magical when used as underplanting for roses. The deep purple blooms with their small gold eye complement rose colours beautifully, and the dense, heart-shaped foliage suppresses weeds and keeps the ground cool and moist — exactly what roses appreciate. It is equally at home edging beds, borders, and walkways, where its spreading habit creates a soft, informal ribbon of colour and scent. Its clambering nature means it will also thread itself up through the lower branches of shrubs, adding an extra layer of interest without any effort on your part — let it find its own way, and it invariably chooses well.
Cut Flowers
'Avril Lawson' produces long flower stems that make it a natural choice for cutting. A small handful gathered from the garden and placed in a vase will bring both colour and scent indoors — a simple pleasure that is easy to overlook with a plant so often thought of purely as ground cover.
Growing Tips
'Avril Lawson' is an easy and rewarding plant to grow. Deadhead the blooms as they fade to prolong the flowering season and keep the display looking its best. If the plant begins to look untidy — as Violas sometimes do in the heat of summer — simply cut it back. It will regrow and rebloom, refreshing itself and continuing to perform well into the season.
Although 'Avril Lawson' is a perennial, it can be relatively short-lived. The good news is that it is very easy to propagate from soft tip cuttings taken in spring or early summer — a simple and reliable way to keep a good stock of plants going and ensure you are never without it in the garden.
- Deadheading: Remove fading blooms to extend the flowering season
- Cutting back: If growth becomes untidy, cut back hard — it will regrow and rebloom
- Propagation: Easy from soft tip cuttings — recommended as plants can be short-lived
- Ground cover: Excellent evergreen weed-suppressing ground cover, especially beneath roses
- Companions: Roses, shrubs, border edges, and walkways
- Growing medium: All our plants are grown peat-free
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Viola 'Avril Lawson' easy to find?
'Avril Lawson' is listed in the RHS Plant Finder but is rarely offered — Hardy's is one of only three nurseries in the UK where it can currently be found. If you have been looking for it, this is your chance.
Is Viola 'Avril Lawson' evergreen?
Yes — 'Avril Lawson' is evergreen, meaning its heart-shaped foliage persists through the year, providing attractive ground cover even when the plant is not in flower.
Is Viola 'Avril Lawson' fragrant?
Yes — 'Avril Lawson' produces sweetly scented flowers, which is a particularly valued quality in a Viola. The fragrance is most noticeable on warm, still days — and equally enjoyable when cut stems are brought indoors.
Can I use Viola 'Avril Lawson' as a cut flower?
Yes — its long flower stems make it well suited to cutting. A few stems in a vase will bring both colour and scent indoors throughout the summer months.
How do I propagate Viola 'Avril Lawson'?
It is very easy to propagate from soft tip cuttings taken in spring or early summer. This is well worth doing, as although 'Avril Lawson' is a perennial it can be relatively short-lived — keeping a stock of young plants ensures you always have it in the garden.
Can Viola 'Avril Lawson' grow in shade?
Yes — 'Avril Lawson' is happy in sun or partial shade, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of garden positions, including beneath trees and shrubs.
What should I do if my Viola looks untidy?
Simply cut it back. 'Avril Lawson' will regrow and rebloom, refreshing itself and continuing to flower through the season. It is a resilient and forgiving plant.
Is Viola 'Avril Lawson' good for underplanting roses?
It is one of the best. The deep purple blooms with their small gold eye complement most rose colours beautifully, and the dense evergreen foliage provides excellent ground cover, suppressing weeds and retaining moisture around the rose roots.
Will Viola 'Avril Lawson' spread through shrubs?
Yes — its naturally clambering habit means it will thread gently through the lower branches of neighbouring shrubs, adding an extra layer of colour and scent without any intervention needed.
Available by mail order across the UK, or come and visit us at our Hampshire nursery.