Thanks for sharing the pic. You just can't beat a rich, drenched, saturated purple. It is a beautiful flower and has a nice name. It probably is easy to care for. The large, dark purples seem to be the best when it comes to not needing too much attention.

Is it a Lyon's? Sometimes, some of the older Lyon's plants have extraordinary blooms but the foliage is all over the place.

By the way, after you posted Lyon's Splendid Chaos, I sent for it. So glad I did as the plant is beautiful. If you don't have Lilac Tenderness, formerly Lavender Tenderness, that is a nice Russian that Lyon's offers.

I finally am sending for Private Dancer again after not having it for many years.

Do you have Lyon's Simpler Times? It is a deep, bright blue double that is a good performer. The foliage remains in a rosette. The color gets more intense with age. Or maybe they changed it but kept the name the same. A new one I just got is not blooming the same, it is not as double nor as deep blue. Maybe it will improve with repeated blooming.

I have some vintage violets that have large, fluffy deep blue flowers. They are carefree in their looks and don't need much attention. Those are characteristics I prefer.

Those traits are also really valued in California where the breeders look for plants that can grow outdoors easily. (In sheltered areas, of course.) Seems that they are growing a lot of the larger Cajuns lately.

Joanne

What a stunning blue. The deep blues are my favorites. I had never seen or heard of Black Swan so I really appreciate seeing it in bloom.

Joanne

The information I found on Black Swan is below ...

Black Swan (Chornyi Lebed) (S. Cherbakov Russian hybrid) Semidouble dark purple pansy. Dark green, quilted foliage with red back. Standard

I've never grown Simpler Times, though I have considered it.

Oh, its a Russian, that explains the foliage and also the name. Sometimes, they name their violets after a Ballet or an Opera. As befitting the dramatic blooms. I will continue to post if this new Simpler Times improves in its bloom to match the older version. I also got Spectacular Blue. Another big blue is Evening Splendor, which I don't have yet. Summer Comfort is another new Lyon's one, it is very light pink, mid-size single star with light lavender fantasy. Sweet, but on the quiet side. Joanne

I have grown Spectacular Blue.

It can be a bit of a challenge, but the experience and blooms are worth the effort.

You might want to take a look at Austen's Love, a nice blousy semi-double medium blue. It's distinction is its large healthy foliage.

It grows really vigorously and blooms almost contantly ...

Thanks for the tip, I will add it to my list. I like your description, "blousy" was the word I was searching for. That looks a lot like the newer Simpler Times that is blooming now. Simpler Times is more blue than the picture, if the monitor color is accurate. I like to have a range of colors in blue and violet.

Lyon's Evening Splendor just bloomed. It is a deeper, more vibrant blue that Simpler Times. Appears to be a slightly larger bloom.

The Russian Frosty Cherry finally bloomed for the first time, have had it for many months. I see what the praise is all about! Quite unusual.

Lyon's Angel's Innocence, in its second bloom, first full bloom cycle, sweet color combo. Summer Comfort is picking up steam, getting more semidouble blooms.

Often, the Lyon's plants come with an initial bloom. Once that fades, they spend some time growing out the leaves. The second bloom, or first full cycle when the plant has its fuller number of leaves is a better time to evaluate it.

I don't know how they coax it into getting the first solitary bloom. However, I am glad to see what the future will hold for the plant.

J

That is a beautiful beautiful blue! Love that!! Rosie