La Fête des Violettes

Mention Toulouse to any French person, and "violette" is practically guaranteed to be the next word out of his or her mouth. Toulouse may be la ville rose (the pink city, so named for the rosy color of its brick buildings), but its traditional flower is the violet. And throughout the month of February, Toulouse celebrates the tradition of its own particular strain of Parma violet, la violette 'Parme de Toulouse'.









I visited for the violet fair and market on the 7th of February, but there was also the 7th International Congress of violets; a gala soirée of the Confrerie de la Violette ("brotherhood" of violets which of course includes many women); the 13th and 14th of the month, tours through various growers' facilities were hosted; and on the 15th, there was an operetta Violettes Impériales. The festivities culminated with a ball and banquet on the 22 of February.



Although the morning of the market was gray and drizzly, the mood was if not rosy at least violet as vendors of plants, bouquets, candies, and all sorts of toiletries set up their stands. Liqueurs, syrups, soaps, candles, perfumes, and sachets were on display and of course, for sale. As the day and the festivities warmed up a bit, there was traditional music and even pain aux violettes (bread with violets) offered for tasting (photo below right).



The famous perfume of the Toulouse violet was imperceptible during the chilly early morning, but as the temperatures mounted, so did the perfume. The fragrance is released when the air is warm, a grower explained to me. And as the delicate perfume permeated the air, its allure proved irresistable to passersby, who stopped to inhale, admire, and discuss the flowers, and eventually purchase plants and bouquets.


While the sweet violet (Viola odorata), with sweetly perfumed single blossoms from late fall through early spring, is native to the region, the so-called violette de Toulouse is a particular strain of Parma violet with medium-purple, very double, and highly fragrant blossoms. It is used in the perfume industry, in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, in the candy industry, and of course, in the traditional violet bouquets which are sold throughout Europe during the late winter months.



The violet has figured as a symbol of Toulouse since the 14th century, when annually a violet of gold was awarded the city's best poet. By 1854, a particular strain of Parma violet appeared in culture at Saint-Jory, near Toulouse. Its origins are clouded in mystery, but this very double and rather tender plant rapidly became established among area growers, largely thanks to a tome published on its culture by a botanist-pharmacist named Timbal-Lagrave. The plants were mostly sterile and so had to be vegetatively propagated.

The complex cultural cycle for this tender violet hasn't really changed since first described by Timbal-Lagrave. In September, stolons are removed from the mother plants and planted in a coldframe or greenhouse to produce new plants. These are planted out the following April through May in raised beds of fertile, well-drained soil. During summer, the plants are drastically cut back to reduce heat stress and disease problems. They are also sheltered with shadecloth from the brunt of the summer sun. The blossoms are harvested from October through March.

All of this requires lots of painstaking hand labor. And of course, this being France, violet growers have developed their own special tools adapted to the culture of this special plant. The most touching display I saw at the violet fair was a collection of antique tools used for growing violets (photo below left). Among these was a plantoir or dibble made from a branch of wood naturally shaped to the purpose (like a relaxed "L"). I have several such dibbles in my own tool selection and even have one for sale on this site!



I have always been somewhat puzzled by Parma violets. Just what are they, botanically speaking? No one seems to know, exactly. The plant first appeared in Parma, Italy, introduced by the Bourbon rulers of the time. It had been discovered in Spain or Portugal, but clearly had origins elsewhere--in North Africa or the Middle East. As far as I know, it has never been found in the wild.

A grower at the Toulouse market told me that the Parma is a hybrid of Viola odorata and V. suavis. In fact, Toulouse's violet is known officially as V. suavis 'Parme de Toulouse.' At any rate, my guess is that as the Parma violets are double and usually sterile, they are probably the result of natural or induced interspecific hybridization. One thing is certain: the Parma violet is a tender plant and must be overwintered under glass in all but the mildest climates. At the same time, it endures hot and humid summer weather very poorly. Not what you'd call an all-around great garden plant.



On the other hand, gardeners in Zones 6-9 can grow the perfectly lovely sweet violet (V. odorata), whose single flowers are graceful and bear a sweet perfume nearly identical with that of the Parma prima dona. Several large-flowered cultivars exist, but even the plain species is a delight. I remember it blooming in the snow in my Indiana garden, which of course immediately made me hum Frank Sinatra's tune..."I bought you violets for your furs..." Nothing like a winter violet for a sense of instant romance!

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