Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black' – Large-flowered, elegant black Viola

Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black' is a modern, large-flowered viola that stands out with its intense, almost black blooms. This unique color adds a striking and stylish accent to any garden, pot, or border. Thanks to its robust branching and compact habit, 'Penny Black' offers abundant and uniform flowering, making it ideal for both commercial cultivation and home gardens.

Characteristics of Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black'

'Penny Black' is distinguished by its deep, dark flowers, which create a dramatic contrast with the fresh green foliage. Its compact, non-sprawling habit makes it attractive and easy to care for, while the vigorous branching at the base ensures repeated blooms throughout the season. These characteristics make this cultivar ideal for pots, containers, borders, and landscaping projects.

Key Features:

• Botanical name: Viola cornuta F1

• Cultivar: 'Penny Black'

• Color: Intense black / deep purple

• Flower size: Larger flowers than standard Viola

• Height: 15–20 cm

• Flowering: Early to mid season, continuous and uniform

• Location: Sun to partial shade

• Uses: Pots, containers, hanging baskets, borders, landscaping plants

• Winter hardiness: Semi-hardy; can overwinter in milder climates

Thanks to its large-flowered and compact form, this cultivar delivers exuberant colour and visual impact in any setting.

Benefits for growers and consumers

'Penny Black' was designed with both ease of cultivation and consumer performance in mind:

• Robust root formation – ensures high-quality plugs and strong end products.

• Grower-friendly habit – reduces the need for growth regulators, contributing to more sustainable cultivation.

• Uniform flowering – ensures consistent presentation across all colours and series.

• Repeat flowering – provides long-lasting beauty in pots, borders and landscape plantings.

These qualities make 'Penny Black' an excellent choice for commercial cultivation and garden centers, as well as for home gardens looking for a striking splash of color.

Application in garden and balcony

'Penny Black' is versatile and suitable for various applications:

• Pots and containers – compact and eye-catching, ideal for balconies, patios or windowsills.

• Borders and mass plantings – the rich blooms fill the space completely and create a striking contrast with lighter flowers.

• Hanging baskets and mixed containers – large-flowered and robust, ideal for late summer and autumn.

• Landscape planting – suitable for public green spaces, commercial projects and garden replanting.

Thanks to its unique colour and repeat flowering, this Viola is a real eye-catcher in any season.

Care and location

Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black' grows best in a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained, fertile soil. The plant is low-maintenance and retains its compact habit and abundant flowering, even in challenging weather conditions.

Care tips:

• Place in full sun to light shade for maximum flowering and color intensity.

• Keep the soil slightly moist, but avoid waterlogging.

• Remove wilted flowers regularly to prolong flowering and maintain a neat appearance.

• Combine with lighter or contrasting flowers for a striking play of colour.

Why choose Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black'?

'Penny Black' offers the perfect combination of unique flower color, robustness, and repeat blooming. The intense black flowers, compact growth, and strong performance in retail and garden settings make this cultivar a reliable choice for growers, consumers, and landscape professionals. Whether for pots, containers, borders, or large-scale landscaping, Viola cornuta F1 'Penny Black' delivers color, elegance, and quality in a single plant.