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Position

Sun exposure:
Dappled shade, full sun
Aspect:
East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing
Position in border:
Front

Soil

Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

Sweet violet, Viola odorata, is a charming perennial, bearing tiny, strongly scented flowers over semi-evergreen foliage. It's perfect for growing in a sheltered spot in light shade and can make good, light ground cover in a dappled woodland garden or under shrubs. A carpet of sweet violets makes fragrant ground cover in a rose bed, giving it a spectacular early flowering display leading up to the start of the rose season. Plants are easy to grow, and spread slowly.

How to grow sweet violets

Sow Viola odorata seeds in spring or autumn, either in pots or seed trays, or direct into a well-prepared seed bed. Plant out in moist soil in partial shade.

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Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sowyesyes
Plantyesyesyesyesyes
Flowersyesyes
Take cuttingsyesyes

Viola and wildlife

Viola has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.

Is Viola poisonous?

Viola has no toxic effects reported.

No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Cats
Cats
Is not known to attract Dogs
Dogs
Is not known to attract Horses
Horses
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
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