Hi Ingevald,
I checked Optimara.com here in the USA but it isn't listed. I suspect that it's a variety that was grown in Germany for European consumption. I also tried to find a conection to Holtkamp in Germany but to no avail. You might try emailing Opimara.com to see if they can give you a lead on the hybrid.
Sorry I conuldn't help.
Fred in NJ

Fred -
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I had this variety in 1975 but lost it along the way. A note to Optimara sounds like the way to go.

Ingevald

Ingevald -

i am quite sure that it is gone for good. Since you grew it - you remember how it looked like - and it is time to gove a chance to a new variety with similar features. I would say most of the plants are goners in 20 years.

Irina

Irina,
Thanks for your valid perspective on this topic. I do agree that it has likely vanished from cultivation. I imagine that most older varieties remain in existence if they had a special outstanding characteristic or were the winner of awards from that far back in time. I remember this one as dark blue (I could be off slightly due to a slight colorblindness issue), medium sized single flower. I have seen others that have similar characteristics and may choose one of them at some point in time.

Ingevald

Ingevald -

you look at the Selectivegardener.com - and check on Optimara series. Margit - is the bluest. You can purchase leaves from them and have full house of blue blooming violets.

I do not grow Optimaras except Rhapsodie Cora. If I would be thinking about which blue I like the best - The King -it is double royal blue - it grows in a naturally perfect rosette, and the flowers are long lasting. The most stunning dark blue single star - is "African Night" - the plant is kind of floppy - and the leaves break easily - but the flowers are astonishing. But if you want a "workhorse" - good bloomer, not that picky - Optimara Barbara, or Margit, or Evelyn, or Rebecca- these will be just right.

Irina

Irina,
FYI. I have been told that Max Maas preferred Frankie over the king.
Fred in NJ

Fred -

I am going to fly to NJ and ask you nicely for the leaves. You tempt me immensely.

I have Maas' Legacy, Memories, Janet. Sashah, Arbor Glen, Chris and The King. So far - Janet and The King are my favorites.

Irina

Ingevald,

When you write to Holtkamp, remember to ask also for Rhapsodie Veronica, R. Veronika. Most ladies names carried the prefix Rhapsodie.

Nancy

Veronika is a Rhapsodie series plant. Here's a link to the very limited info the Optimara site has about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhapsodie Veronika

I am sure that if they do not even remember what color it was - it is definitely gone.

Irina

I have the Russian AV named Veronika, which I purchased from the Ukraine, but the hybridizer is BOS (not sure who that is). Here is a link to the picture of blooms from the plant my leaves came from:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31279656&l=2dcdedd035&id=1367875345

Here is a link that might be useful: Veronika

I have the Russian AV named Veronika, which I purchased from the Ukraine. Here is a link to the picture of blooms from the plant my leaves came from:

Here is a link that might be useful: Veronika

oh my i looked for that same violet a few years back I was in high school when that violet was popular and mom had so many of them she wanted me to name my first born Veronica how i remember it, also it was the girls name on scoobie doo cartoon,
thank goodness i only had a son I would never heard the end of it I was so scared she was going to mention vernion for a boy whew....as time went on now she has passed I do wish I had took some of her AV pots and kept them but I just wasnt thinking when she died and they did to.
if you ever find Veronika please also let me know as I will you. i can remember all those rows on the window sill in the kitchen even now as I type this I am tearing up I need to go.
good luck.