How to Grow and Care for Violets

Sweet violet is a mainstay in European gardening and cuisine. Its sweet smell has engendered a long tradition of use in the perfume industry. The leaves and flowers are edible and can be mixed with salads or made into syrup. In the wild, sweet violet is often found near woodland edges, forest clearings, and other shaded areas.

The common blue violet is an attractive wildflower known for its blue to purplish white hues. It is common in North America, where it is sometimes associated with a weed. The plant is popular as an ornamental, and it is a state flower in several states in the US. Its flowers and leaves are edible and safe to be planted near pets.

Manchurian violet is a cultivated plant used as a border in gardens, where its produces double-petal flowers similar in appearance to Parma violets. Surprisingly, some first-year plants produce seeds before their flowers.

Native to northern Spain, the horned violet (Viola cornuta) is an evergreen perennial flower that gets its name from its long nectar spur. Blooms in cooler weather and has a light fragrance. Grows best in moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

Common dog-violet (Viola riviniana) is a perennial flower that is native to Eurasia and Africa. It is an important source of food for the larvae of many butterfly species. In spring it produces bluish-purple flowers but, unlike other violets, it does not have a scent.