About
An annual or biennial wildflower, with a basal rosette of spoon-shaped leaves with bluntly toothed edges. Flowers from spring through to late summer, with leafy, upright stems bearing small, creamy white flowers, around 1cm across, with a yellow mark flecked with purple on the lower petal.
About the genus
Viola can be annuals, biennials or deciduous or evergreen perennials, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and 5-petalled flowers of characteristic shape
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitTufted
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationThrives in any well-drained soil in an open, sunny spot; often found in fields and on waste ground
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown in situ in autumn or spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and violet leaf midges
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free, but may be susceptible to pansy leaf spot, powdery mildews, a rust and virus diseases