why not isolate them in their own bed.. to maintain genetics ... presuming they come true from seed

ken

You can propagate violas from cuttings and some, such as Molly Sanderson, must be increased this way as they do not come true from seed. If you Google viola cuttings there is lots of information on how to do it.

The only way your violas will not come true next season is if they self seed. The original plants cannot change their genetics.

The only way your violas will not come true next season is if they self seed. The original plants cannot change their genetics.

===>> what does this mean flora ...???

the plant itself.. will remain true ..

but the seedlings will not be true???

ken

flora_uk - thank you! You answered my main question when you said 'the original plant cannot change its genetics'. That's what I was worried about. I had a vague idea that bees might go from flower to flower and somehow pollinate my Etain viola with material from one of my other viola types, thereby changing the Etain into some kind of cross. If I am understanding your answer, it appears that won't happen.

Thanks for the help :-)

cross pollination will bring new crossed plants from the seed ... how similar or diverse the resultant seedlings are.. is left to genetics ...

it will not change the plant from which the seed was harvested..

or i am misunderstanding flora

if you want more of a given plant.. you would then rely on division.. or propagation .. not seed.. TO INSURE YOUR RESULT ...

ken

Ken - you understand me perfectly. It's just like people - however often you indulge in a little 'pollination' you stay Ken and Ms Ken stays the same too. But between you you can produce all sorts of different-looking 'seedlings' ie kids.

"If I have other types of violas planted nearby, will this interfere with my Etain violas coming back every year true-to-form? " NO, your Etain will be an Etain and look like an Etain every year it comes back.

you can bag the plants to force them to self pollinate. depending on the genetics, you will get varying proportions of you seedlings that look like the parent plant you have this year. division is probably the fastest way to multiple your plants reliably.