Viola odorata

This is the original Viola odorata, native to Europe and Asia. I have had many customers who are from Europe but live here now ask about this one. They remember the scent of their childhoods and want to rediscover it. It seems to them nothing else compares, and now I see what they mean. This beautiful blue violet is not only one of the most fragrant in the greenhouse, but it's one of the prettiest, too. The blooms are large so there is not only more to smell but more to admire. I'm so glad to have this one back on the violet list.

You will never wonder if this is a real sweet violet – the scent is so strong and sweet, there will be no doubt! A gorgeous perfume emanates from the little deep purple blossoms, which bloom in early spring and usually repeat in October. They have been esteemed for centuries for their scent, medicinal value and as a sweetener for food. Because they are so short, and far away from our noses, you may want to pot some up to bring inside and put on your desk during bloom-time (although they will not live indoors over the long run). These are small plants, growing no more than 6” tall, but they are quite vigorous, and will make good-sized clumps. They do not seed all over the place like some violets do. They were introduced to America during the 17th century. Culture –Sweet Violets are not fussy – plant them in partial shade, in average to damp soil, and in average to rich soil.

A favorite for its sweet, extremely fragrant, deep blue flowers. A hardy and resilient grower in the garden.

The real thing; often you'll get a just slightly or non-fragrant version. This one you don't have to second guess and even can smell it from a distance. There is nothing like little bouquet of sweet violets in the house for a pleasing fragrance. For us they start blooming in late fall. It seeds and spreads readily in milder zones (7 and up).

Lovely fragrant light blue violets are produced in spring on these hardy perennials with dark green leaves. They are great for borders, groundcover, natural settings, and also in containers. They are so easy to grow that sometimes people consider them pests, as they do spread.