Alphabetical Plant Listing

Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

Sweet Violet, March Violet, Sweet Pansy, Wood Violet, English Violet, Florist's Violet, Garden Violet


Deliciously scented, Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) is an indispensable perennial for the shade garden. Blooming in late winter and early spring, it provides attractive foliage, fragrance, and color at a season when few other plants are at their peak. Short spurred, the delicate flowers are predominantly dark blue or purple but lilac, pale rose or white variations are also frequent. The sweet-scented flowers arise from the attractive evergreen foliage of heart shaped, slightly downy, dark green leaves. A brilliant way of coloring shady areas!

  • Easily growing up to 6-10 in. tall (15-25 cm) and 12-18 in. across (30-45 cm), Sweet Violets will spread by runners and multiply at a moderate rate, once established.
  • A part shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Full sun may be tolerated in cool summer areas.
  • This plant is very versatile and can be used in beds, borders, underplanting shrubs and roses, cottage gardens, rock gardens, woodland gardens, containers or as ground covers. Flowers are excellent for cutting and edible, eat them fresh or candied.
  • Watch for slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, violet gall midge, pansy leaf spot and powdery mildews, it is rabbit and deer resistant.
  • Remove spent flowers to extend the flowering season. For an improved spring floral display, cut runners and prune off spindly growth in late fall. Divide in fall or just after flowering.
  • Propagate by seed or division.
  • Native to Europe.

Not sure which Viola - Violets to pick?
Compare All Viola - Violets

Buy Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 6 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Viola - Violets
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Winter
Height 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Buy Plants

Guides with Viola - Violets


Rustamank, Shutterstock, 123rf

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 6 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Viola - Violets
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Winter
Height 6" – 10" (15cm – 25cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Edging, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Guides with Viola - Violets

Plant Calculator

How many Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.