Sweet violet

Questions about sweet violet

Does sweet violet need sun or shade?

Sweet violet grows in part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun) and part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning).

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

What zones does sweet violet grow in?

USDA zones 4 to 9. It is hardy to zone 4, which means it survives winter nights down to about −20 °F (−29 °C).

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

When does sweet violet flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late March to early May. 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 sweet 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 sweet 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 threes and fives, along the front and just behind it.

In the bed above, the planner used 30 in eight groups.

Is sweet 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 sweet violet?

Sweet violet comes from Europe. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Common blue violet: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers mid April to late May.
• Dwarf crested iris: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late April to mid May, lavender or white, not purple.
• Woodland stonecrop: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late April to late May, white, not purple.

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

Do deer eat sweet violet?

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

Will sweet violet spread?

It spreads sideways, by runners or roots; the risk of it taking over is moderate. Spreads steadily by creeping stems. It is easy to pull out, but needs a firm edge.

What flowers after sweet violet?

Sweet violet is over by early May. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Bugleweed: from early May to late May, 6 in tall.
• Lily of the valley: from early May to late May, 8 in tall.
• Sweet woodruff: from early May to early June, 8 in tall.

What does sweet violet look like in winter?

Sweet 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 sweet violet good for bees and butterflies?

Sweet violet is visited by pollinators 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.