Classification of the

Cultivated forms of the genus Viola.
 

(1)   Single Violets

The cultivars in this section are developments from “Quatre Saisons” violets and the “Russian” violets, and are collectively termed 'Sweet Violets'.

(1a) Governor Herrick Type

These are single flowered violets, derived from V. cucullata  and crossed with the large-flowered forms of the single violet.  They are unscented and have a distinctive appearance, as well as a renowned resistance to pests and disease.

(1b) Hybrid Single Violets

These are relatively new developments from various species within the section Viola.

(2) Semi-Double Violets

A development from the single ‘Sweet Violet’, with large, rounded outer petals, presenting a central rosette that is usually of a different colour or combination of colours.

(3) Double Violets

A natural development from the single flowered 'Sweet Violet', with full, double flowers

(4) Parma Violets

Distinct from all other violets in both the double and occasional single forms, and usually identified by their more compact habit, with smaller, pointed glossy leaves and subtle spicy perfume. Unlike other forms of the violet, these cultivars are not hardy.
 

(5) Early Pansies

The pansy, developed before 1841, is identified by the fact that the raying is still present in some form although some cultivars display a thickening or consolidation of the rays, which eventually developed into the familiar blotch.

(6) Fancy Pansies

A flower that is large, fresh, clean, circular in outline, with smooth, thick, velvety petals -- without serration--, lying evenly on each other, either flat or slightly reflexed so that the surface of the flower is still convex. The centre petals must meet above the eye, reach well up on the top petals, and a bottom petal sufficiently deep and broad to balance the others. The blotch must be large and solid, rounded and well defined. The cultivars in this section must be more than 63 mm in diameter.

(7) Show Pansies

A flower that is between 38 – 50 mm in diameter, fresh and clean, with the same form, build, texture and eye as a Fancy Pansy. Bi-coloured flowers must have a ground colour, throughout, of the same shade with circular, broad, of uniform colour and well defined at the edges. The belting (margin) must be uniform in width and exactly the same colour as the top petals, that is, distinct from the ground colour. It should also have a good-sized blotch --smaller than in the Fancy Pansies--, dense, solid and approximately circular. 
 

(8) Bedding Pansies

The cultivars in this section are usually commercial, seed-raised varieties.
 

(9) Bedding Viola

A flower that is clean, of good substance, circular or oval in form, without any trace of a blotch, and with an eye that is well defined, circular and bright yellow or orange.
 

(10) Exhibition Viola

A flower that is of the form, build and texture outlined for Fancy Pansies. While the colour may be selfs, striped, mottled, suffused or belted (margined), there can be no semblance of a blotch or rays. The eye must be bright, solid, circular and well defined. The cultivars in this section are all over 65mm in diameter.
 

(11) Violetta

The petals should be smooth and of good substance; the colour bright and clear, and they may be striped, margined or bi-coloured. The eye should be bright yellow or orange, and there should be no semblance of rays or a blotch. The flower should have a distinct fragrance, present an oval shape and measure no more than 37.5mm and no less than 25mm in width. The habit should be dwarf and pro-cumbent.
 

(12) Cornuta Hybrids

These cultivars are the result of crosses with V. cornuta and other species within the section Melanium, producing the distinctive ‘windmill’ shape to the flowers. With a bushy growth habit they should resemble the species as much as possible, allowing for variations in the blooms’ size and colour.