Violet

Who can't help but adore violets? Their cheerful "faces," often whiskered or otherwise marked, brighten the dreariest day in spring. Use them at the front of beds or borders as edging plants, as bedding plants, in containers and window boxes, in herb gardens, in wild gardens and in rock gardens too. There is a multitude of forms, many now winter hardy in cold climates, in all sizes and colors. Cut back straggly stems and deadhead routinely to prolong blooming. They self-seed freely, but are not invasive. Violets do best in lightly shaded places in soil that remains moist.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun,Shade

Zones:

2-11

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

1-12 inches tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

6 inches or indefinitely wide, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms spring, fall, and winter in mild climates, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fragrant,Winter Interest,Cut Flowers,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Johnny-jump-up

(Viola tricolor) has tufts of heart-shaped leaves and plenty of 1-inch yellow and purple flowers with brown "whiskers" and purple "chin" over a long period. It self-seeds freely. It grows to 5 inches tall and is hardy in Zones 3-9, but is often treated as an annual.
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Molly Sanderson Johnny jump-up

(Viola tricolor 'Molly Sanderson') has almost black flowers yellow at the throat. It grows 8 inches tall and is hardy in Zones 3-9.
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Sorbet Coconut Duet viola

(Viola cornuta 'Sorbet Coconut Duet') shows off purple and white flowers on a compact, 12-inch-tall, heat-resistant plant. Zones 4-9
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Sorbet Coconut Swirl viola

(Viola cornuta 'Sorbet Coconut Swirl') is a delight with creamy-white flowers edged in rich lavender. It's a heat-resistant variety that grows 1 foot tall. Zones 4-9.
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Starry Night viola

(Viola cornuta 'Starry Night') bears blue-and-yellow flowers from spring to fall. It's more heat tolerant than most. Zones 5-8.
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Garden Plans

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Fragrant Slope Garden Plan
Blue and Pink Garden with a Focus on Iris
Small-Space Spring Garden
White-Theme Garden Plan
Drought-Tolerant Garden Plan
Country-Style Fall-Garden Plan
Colorful Vegetable Garden Plan
Flowery Deck Garden Plan
Season-Long Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Bleeding heart

The blue green ferny leaves and yellow bleeding-heart-like flowers mix well with yellow pansies or violas in light shade.

English daisy

Blooming at the same time, low-growing English daisies with their single or pompon pink and white flowers are a classic combination with violets.

Forget-me-not

The fragrant yellow-eyed bright blue flowers of woodland forget-me-not bloom at the same time as violets and they enjoy the same conditions. The flowers play off well against each other.

Propagation

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Seed
Division
Stem Cuttings