Horned violet

Questions about horned violet

Does horned violet need sun or shade?

Horned violet grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day) and part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does horned violet grow in?

USDA zones 6 to 10. It is hardy to zone 6, which means it survives winter nights down to about 0 °F (−18 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does horned violet flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid April to late June. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should horned violet be planted?

8 in (20 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 12 in (30 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 6 in (15 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many horned violet plants do I need?

At 8 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 27 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 16 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 86 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used 13 in four groups.

Is horned violet poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like horned violet?

Horned violet comes from France and Spain. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Mouse-ear coreopsis 'Nana': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early May to mid June, yellow, not purple.
• Blue-eyed grass: the same job in a bed; 8 in taller, flowers mid May to late June.
• Coral bells 'Firefly': the same job in a bed; 4 in taller, flowers late May to late July.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat horned violet?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What flowers after horned violet?

Horned violet is over by late June. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Black-eyed Susan: from mid July to mid September, 24 in tall.
• Butterfly weed: from late June to early August, 24 in tall.
• Carpathian bellflower 'Blue Clips': from late June to late August, 8 in tall.

What does horned violet look like in winter?

Horned violet holds some of its leaves into winter, more in a mild year or a sheltered spot, and they look tired by March. Cut the old ones off as new growth starts.

Is horned violet good for bees and butterflies?

Horned violet is visited by pollinators, bees and butterflies.

It is a host plant: the caterpillars of fritillary butterflies feed on its leaves. A butterfly can only lay its eggs on its host plants, so these do more for it than any nectar flower.