ExplorePlants

Sweet violet

Viola odorata

Sweet violets are lovely little flowers that bloom in spring. They have heart-shaped leaves and pretty purple petals that smell sweet, making them a favorite in gardens and meadows.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Sweet violet is a low-growing plant with heart-shaped leaves and wonderfully fragrant, five-petaled flowers. They are typically deep purple, sometimes white, and distinctly bloom close to the ground, unlike taller similar plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyViolaceaeGenusViola
Sweet violet
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgebiennial trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
Sweet violet

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Ancient Greeks used violets to make perfume and believed they could cure headaches.

Its amazing scent makes your nose briefly "turn off" so you can't smell it!

The sweet violet was Queen Victoria's favorite flower, symbolizing humility.

Violet flowers can be used to make a special color-changing syrup!

Special abilities

Ability

Spreading Runners

Sweet violet can rapidly spread with underground stems, creating new plants and covering ground quickly to thrive.

Ability

Hidden Seed Makers

Sweet violet has tiny, closed flowers under its leaves that self-pollinate, guaranteeing seeds even when pollinators are scarce.

Ability

Ant Snack Seeds

Sweet violet seeds have a yummy, fatty part that attracts ants, which then carry the seeds away to new spots.

Measurements & details

Height
10-15 cm
Spread
20-30 cm
Flower Size
1.5-2.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late winter to early spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

depends on

European red ant

Myrmica rubra

for spreading its tiny seeds far away.

eaten by

Great Spangled Fritillary

Speyeria cybele

its caterpillars as their only food source.

pollinates

Western honey bee

Apis mellifera

collecting nectar and helping make seeds.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before picking flowers, and don't eat any plants without asking first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Sweet violet?

10-15 cm

How wide does Sweet violet spread?

20-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Sweet violet?

1.5-2.5 cm

When does Sweet violet bloom?

Late winter to early spring

Is Sweet violet edible?

Yes

Is Sweet violet toxic?

Mild

What is Sweet violet's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Sweet violet pollinated?

Insect

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