Hybrid

Sorbet® XP Deep Orange

Viola cornuta

Photo: J.H. Jaume Saint-Hilaire · Wikimedia Commons · (Public domain)

Upright stems with petite 1-1 1/2" flowers. Tolerates temperature extremes and will bloom through winter in the South when planted in fall. Excellent in containers and garden beds. Rounded petal edges give the clear orange blooms a pleasant, full appearance. Cut flowers: Overwinters well in our unheated tunnel (Zone 5) from a fall planting, yielding 12-20" long stems under those conditions. Harvestable in mid-to-late spring. Dense, upright plants produce abundant stems and blooms. Edible Flowers: Decorative and edible garnish for salads and desserts with slight wintergreen flavor. While a popular choice for brightening up salad mix, the flowers are also good for candying.Also known as Johnny jump-up, European field pansy, heart's ease, and hybrid violet.

Harvest

60-70d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

6–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

6-9 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Sorbet® XP Deep Orange in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Sorbet® XP Deep Orange · Zones 6–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-12 inches

SoilWell-drained soil

WaterRegular, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorSlight wintergreen flavor with mild, pleasant taste suitable for garnishing.

ColorDeep orange

Size1-1 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

In zone 7, start seeds indoors under lights in late February or early March, aiming for transplants in the ground by mid-April after your last frost date (typically April 7–15 in north-central Georgia). Sow a second small batch 3 weeks after the first if you want to stagger your bloom window slightly. Don't bother succession-sowing past late April — once daytime highs are consistently above 80°F, these violas stretch, stop blooming well, and aren't worth the bed space. Pull them by early June and follow with a warm-season annual like zinnias or celosias that can take the summer.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low, Medium. Propagation: Division, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Sorbet® XP Deep Orange reaches harvest at 60 - 70 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1-1 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruit is a three valves capsule. The seeds have an oily feel and are freely dispersed by ants.

Edibility: Flowers and leaves are edible.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh flowers should be stored in a cool location, ideally a refrigerator at 35-40°F with moderate humidity. Use a shallow container lined with damp paper towels and change water daily if in a vase. Shelf life is typically 5-7 days when refrigerated. For preservation, dry flowers by hanging in bundles in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under heavy books for 2-3 weeks for decorative use. Candying is also suitable—coat petals with egg white and superfine sugar, then dry at room temperature for 24-48 hours.

History & Origin

Sorbet® XP Deep Orange is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: France and Spain

Advantages

+Blooms reliably through winter in southern climates when fall-planted
+Produces abundant 12-20" harvestable stems ideal for cut flower arrangements
+Compact 1-1.5" flowers have attractive rounded petals and vibrant orange color
+Thrives in containers and garden beds with minimal care requirements
+Edible flowers offer culinary versatility for garnishes and candying projects

Considerations

-Petite flower size may appear less dramatic in large landscape plantings
-Requires fall planting in cold zones to achieve winter blooming performance
-Edible flowers have mild wintergreen flavor that not all palates prefer

Companion Plants

Marigolds are the most practical neighbor for Sorbet XP Deep Orange — they deter aphids and whiteflies through root secretions and scent, and at 6–9 inches tall they sit at roughly the same height without shading the violas out. Sweet Alyssum is worth tucking into the gaps between plants; it attracts parasitic wasps (Braconidae and Chalcidoidea) that knock back aphid populations, and it won't compete hard for root space at the 6-inch spacing these violas prefer. Nasturtiums pull double duty as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from your violas — in our zone 7 Georgia springs, both bloom together before the heat shuts them down, so the timing lines up naturally.

Black Walnut is the one to avoid most seriously: it produces juglone through root exudate and decomposing leaf litter, and bedding plants like violas are sensitive enough that planting within the drip line is a reliable way to lose them. Fennel is broadly allelopathic and suppresses nearby plants even at low density — it's a bad neighbor for almost everything, and these violas are no exception. Eucalyptus releases volatile terpenes from its leaf litter that inhibit germination and root development in shallow-rooted annuals planted close by.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide complementary colors

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and flies while attracting pollinators

Sage

Repels cabbage moths, carrot flies, and other harmful insects

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds that stunt nearby plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit seed germination and growth

Troubleshooting Sorbet® XP Deep Orange

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Gray fuzzy coating on leaves and stems, especially during cool, damp stretches

Likely Causes

Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — thrives when temperatures sit between 55–75°F with poor airflow
Overcrowded planting at less than 6 inches apart trapping moisture

What to Do

1.Remove and trash (don't compost) any affected plant tissue immediately
2.Thin plants to at least 6 inches apart and clear debris from the soil surface
3.If it keeps spreading, apply a copper-based fungicide per label directions

Tiny, irregular holes chewed through petals and leaves, often overnight

Likely Causes

Slugs — common in Georgia's humid springs, especially after rain when soil stays wet
Earwigs (Forficula auricularia), which feed at night and hide in mulch during the day

What to Do

1.Set out iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the base of plants at dusk
2.Pull mulch back 2–3 inches from stems to reduce hiding spots
3.Check under leaves and along the soil line with a flashlight after dark to confirm which pest you're actually dealing with

Leaves developing white powdery patches, usually starting on older foliage in late spring

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — picks up as temperatures rise above 80°F and plants are stressed
Overhead watering that leaves foliage wet through the evening

What to Do

1.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base early in the morning
2.Spray affected foliage with a diluted neem oil solution (2 tbsp per gallon of water) weekly until symptoms stop spreading
3.Accept that this variety is running out of steam by June in zone 7 anyway — pulling it early and replanting with a heat-tolerant annual is often the right call

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Sorbet XP Deep Orange flowers be grown in containers?▼

Yes, this variety is excellent for container gardening. The compact, upright growth habit and abundant blooms make it ideal for pots on patios, balconies, or windowsills. Ensure containers have drainage holes and use well-draining potting soil. Water regularly but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.

What do Sorbet XP Deep Orange flowers taste like?▼

The petals have a slight wintergreen flavor with a mild, pleasant taste. They're more valued for their decorative appearance than strong flavor, making them perfect as edible garnishes for salads, desserts, and beverages rather than as a primary ingredient.

How long do these flowers bloom?▼

When planted in fall, Sorbet XP tolerates temperature extremes and blooms through winter in southern regions (Zone 5+). In standard conditions, blooms appear within 60-70 days and continue throughout the growing season with proper deadheading to encourage more flowers.

Is Sorbet XP Deep Orange good for beginners?▼

Yes, this is an easy-to-grow variety suitable for beginner gardeners. It requires minimal care, tolerates various conditions, and produces abundant blooms with little maintenance. Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours) and regular water are the main requirements.

When should I plant Sorbet XP Deep Orange for cut flowers?▼

For winter-through-spring harvesting, plant in fall. In a Zone 5 unheated tunnel, fall-planted crops overwinter and yield harvestable 12-20 inch stems in mid-to-late spring. For summer blooms, plant in spring after the last frost date.

Can I candy the flowers?▼

Yes, the petals candy beautifully. Brush petals with lightly beaten egg white, coat with superfine sugar, and allow to dry completely at room temperature for 24-48 hours. These make elegant decorations for cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.