Violet Teacups

Violet Teacups (Jovellana violacea) is a cottage garden perennial with red stems that reach 1.5 to 2m tall and about 1m wide. In spring and summer they dangle pale purple, bell-shaped flowers freckled on the inside, and the plant holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Give it sun and drainage and it asks for little else.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers worth a close look. Each pale purple bell is freckled inside, and they hang in dozens along the stems, moving in the slightest breeze.
• Red stems. The stems show red through the year while the plant is growing, so colour starts before the first flower opens.
• Fussy about little. It grows in any well drained soil, acid or alkaline, from sand to clay.
• Slim for its height. At about 1m wide it adds height to a border without swamping the plants beside it.
• A simple yearly routine. One prune after flowering and a feed is all the care it wants.

Where it works best

Cottage gardens. Plant it in the middle or back of a border, 1m apart, among roses, salvias and daisies, where its airy stems weave through sturdier neighbours.

Flowering borders and informal beds. It has a rangy habit, so it looks best grouped in threes or fives, with lower plants in front to hide the base of the stems.

Sheltered corners. A warm wall or fence gives protection from frost and wind, and the red stems show well against pale paint or stone.

Growing Violet Teacups in Australia

Position and climate. It flowers best in full sun and copes with part shade. Mild, moist temperate gardens suit it, and it needs protection from frost, so shelter young plants and grow it against a warm wall in cold districts. In hot subtropical gardens choose a spot that misses the fiercest afternoon sun.

Soil. Any well drained soil will do, from sand to clay and from acid to alkaline. Mulch after planting to hold moisture and keep the soil temperature even while the young plant establishes.

Water and feed. Keep the soil moist but not soggy while it settles in, then water in dry spells. After summer flowering, apply a slow release fertiliser to fuel the next season's growth.

Pruning. Cut back after the summer flowers finish. This encourages new flowering stems to develop and keeps the plant from becoming too leggy.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Violet Teacups as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Plants arrive small and upright, and they build height over the first season. Tube stock is supplied by our grower and is not always on hand. The tube shows as sold out when the grower has none, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is available again.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• How to create a cottage garden in Australia
• Browse more flowering plants
• Plants for cool climates

Common questions

Is Violet Teacups an Australian native?

No. It comes from Chile, which is why it likes mild, moist conditions and protection from frost. It sits well beside natives in a mixed border.

Does it need staking?

Usually not if it is planted among sturdy neighbours. Grouping several plants, and cutting back after summer flowering, keeps the stems upright and tidy.

When should I cut it back?

Straight after the summer flowers finish. New flowering stems then develop for the following season, and a slow release feed after the cut helps them along.