Botanical Name: Viola odorata
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Common Name: Sweet Violet, English Violet  
Plant photo of: Viola odorata
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Violet, White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fragrance, Showy Flowers, Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Lawn, Parking Strip, Patio, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Filler, Mass Planting, Lawn Alternative, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Sandra Chipley

  • Description

  • Notes

Sweet violets are charming additions to the shade garden. heart-shaped leaves are a deep, glossy green. Violet spring flowers are small, nodding, and fragrant. Spreads by seeds; some think it invasive, but I enjoy seeing its perky self at the shady fringes of the lawn. My dog Mieke loved to lay on them, and they tolerated her quite well. Grows 2 to 3 inches tall and 12 or more inches wide.
Grow in part to full shade in any well-drained soil. If you don't want it re-seeding itself, water it a little less and mow it to remove the flowers. It may escape its location, and set up little colonies in your lawn, and given that we could all lighten up a bit about perfect lawns, a charming lesson in letting go.