Irina, That hammock thing looks intriguing. If would have to be inside though. It's still too cold for that king of experimenting but I'll let you know how it goes ;) Christine, No, this is not a usual way of propagation. But, some of us like to experiment and the longer we suffer from cabin fever the more we want to try something new, different or unusual! Pembroke, I have a 'Playful Spectrum' (notoriously unstable) that sported into a solid pink. Irina suggested I take a leaf from the lower leaves that may still have the genetics of the original form. Maybe try to take your leaves from the side that is blooming true (and maybe from the older parts of this side, as well). I don't think splitting the plant will do much good as everyone else says. You'll end up with a misshapen plant that still has the genetics to go off on its own. Some violets are just unstable and highly affected by their environment. Linda

I have not grown them from seed, but I do know that it takes a long time after the flower is dead for the seeds to show up. I have propagated from cuttings which is real easy. All I do is cut right under a leaf, take off the leaves, just leaving a few at the top, stick it in soil in a pot and keep watered for a while. Originally I keep it in the shade, but when I can pull on the stalk and it doesn't easily move, then I start adding sun to its routine. I plant them once they have been in full sun for a while.

I've had one for several years from Burnt Ridge that is slow growing with small leaves but just got one for my son from One Green World at the Yard and Garden show that has very large serrated leaves looking nothing like my other plant. It is 3' tall allready, I'm wondering how old it would be and how soon leaves could be picked to make tea.

Robbie, do you have a balcony or similar outside area you could use in NYC? If so, I think what I would do for any given successfully rooted variety is plant one in your upstate garden, when it is sufficiently strong and hardened off, and leave the other in a pot on this hopefully not mythical balcony in subtropical NYC. I think this belt and suspenders approach increases your odds of successfully overwintering at least one specimen of the variety. When Kay says "Even the hardy varieties are trouble that first winter", I know that wet protection was a factor in at least some of this trouble. (I'm thinkng specifically of the Apothecary's Rose, and other roses rooted that season.)