Seasonal Wild Flowers

Sweet Violet

Latin name

Viola odorata

Family

Violaceae

Flowering season

Late February to May.

It may also flower in autumn and in the winter in the

Southwest during mild winters.

English distribution

It is found throughout the country, but is less common

in the North and West.

See the BSBI distribution map for Sweet Violet

Habitat

Sweet Violet grows in hedge banks, woodland,

churchyards, waste and brownfield sites and beside

roads and footpaths.

Description

It is a native, perennial, low-growing, rhizomatous,

patch-forming, fragrant herb that grows in patches of

plants linked by rooting stolons.

It is the first Violet of spring.

The flowers are small (12-18mm) and mainly violet, lilac

or white.

There are 5 petals and a prominent spur which is

usually lilac or purple.

There are 5 stamens with the orange anthers

around the ovary.

The style is simple, rather fleshy and slightly curved

or hooked.

The stigma is capitate but is not always visible.

Thare are 5 blunt to lanceolate sepals with backwardly

projecting appendages.

The fruit is a spherical capsule.

Leaves are downy and and heart-shaped when older.

It spreads by seeds and stolons, and is widely planted

and naturalised.

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Sweet Violet, Dorset

Purple flower

Side view - blunt sepals, small appendages

Sweet Violet - patch with white flowers

Front view of white flower

Close-up - orange anthers and a curved style

Side view of white variety, sepals and purple spur

Close-up showing small sepal appendages

Heart-shaped leaves

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