Viola 'Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow'

Garden Ready Plants:
Garden Ready Plants can be planted straight into their final position. If you can't plant them immediately, keep them in a bright, sheltered spot and make sure they don't dry out.

Plant in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Water the plants before planting if the rootballs feel dry, position them at the same depth they were growing in their tray, gently firm the soil or compost around the roots and water thoroughly.

Pots and containers:
Choose a container with good drainage holes and fill with good-quality multipurpose compost. Gently firm the compost rather than packing it down tightly, and leave around 2–3cm below the rim to make watering easier.

For a 25–30cm (10–12in) pot, use around 3–5 plants, spacing them evenly so they have room to fill out and create a full display.

Hanging baskets:
Use around 5 plants in a 30cm (12in) hanging basket, spacing them evenly to create a rounded, flower-filled display.

Water thoroughly after planting and check pots and baskets regularly, particularly during mild, dry or windy weather. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged.

Top tip:
Plant several together to make the most of the colour-changing effect. With flowers opening and maturing at different times, you'll get a constantly changing mix of cream, lilac and violet across the display.

The changing colours of 'Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow' give you plenty to work with. White or cream primroses keep the combination soft, while deeper purple pansies pick up the violet tones of the mature flowers.

Bellis adds a contrasting pompom flower shape, while taller wallflowers can bring extra height to larger containers and seasonal displays.

Spring-flowering bulbs such as crocuses, muscari, dwarf daffodils and compact tulips can also be planted beneath your violas in autumn. They'll emerge through the display in spring, adding height and another layer of colour.

Top tip:
Keep companion colours fairly simple and let the viola do the changing. White, cream or deep purple partners will complement all three stages of its flowers without competing with them.

Keep plants well watered during dry spells, particularly those growing in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets, but avoid leaving the compost waterlogged.

As flowers fade, pinch or snip off the whole flower stem just above the leaves rather than removing only the petals. This removes the developing seed pod and helps encourage the plant to keep producing new flowers.

Flowering may slow or pause during particularly cold winter weather. This is normal – continue caring for the plants and they'll start producing fresh growth and flowers again as conditions improve.

Plants growing in containers will benefit from a liquid feed while actively growing. There's no need to feed during very cold weather when growth has slowed; start feeding again as growth picks up towards spring to encourage plenty of new flowers.

Top tip:
Don't mistake the older violet flowers for a different plant or fading colour – the transition from cream through lilac to violet is what makes this variety so unusual.

Professional Grower Plugs:
Supplied in trays of 20 or 60, Professional Grower Plugs offer excellent value and are ideal for gardeners who enjoy growing plants on themselves. These young plants arrive ready to be potted into 9cm pots and grown on in a bright, sheltered position before being hardened off and planted into their final position.

Garden Ready Plants:
Supplied in trays of 12, Garden Ready Plants are our largest plug plants and a great choice if you want quicker results. Carefully grown on before dispatch, they're ready to plant straight into beds, borders, pots, window boxes or hanging baskets.