It's Groves Nurseries favourite time of year - it's violet time!

Groves Nurseries holds the National Collection of Viola odorata and Parma Violets, a collection that was started by Charles William Groves, grandfather of Charlie and Becky, and continued by their father Clive, who also developed a passion for these highly scented beautiful little flowers.

The collection was started in the 1960s by Charles William Groves who saved the famous Zambra collection amongst others and went on to build a collection of over 140 varieties.

The very first violet he bred was named 'Clive Groves' and most members of the family now have violets named after them. This includes five bred by Clive Groves, Eliza May Groves, Madeleine Mary Groves, Ivy Thirza Groves, Amelia Violet Groves Stork and Frederick Peter Groves Stork which are all named after Charlie and Becky Grove's children, his and Diana Groves' grandchildren. In fact, this spring he has just launched a brand-new variety called 'Pretty Red Robyn' a beautiful new compact red violet which he has named after his step-granddaughter Robyn Bennellick (step-daughter of his youngest son Chris Groves).

Clive continued to grow the collection of Viola odorata and Parma Violets and was awarded National Collection status in 2002. The collection is now one of the largest in the world and Clive and Becky are frequent contact with growers from all over the world to keep the collection in check

He has won many medals in Europe for them, as well as getting a silver medal at Hampton Court Flower Show in 2007 and was even knighted by La Confrerie de la Violette in the city hall of Toulouse, France. Clive also won first prize for a tree violet in the International Violet Conference in Toulouse, in 2019, where Chris Groves also gained first prize in the species category for his photos of rousulate violets, taken when he was botanising in Patagonia.

This winter sunshine is perfect for Groves' favourite flower, which needs shade in the summer but good light levels in the winter to make them flower. They are available at the garden centre, via click and collect, home delivery or mail order.

Find out more here.

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