Sweet Violet - Viola odorata

Sweet Violets are herbaceous perennials with vivid purple flowers.

Plant Details - Sweet Violet

Family: Violaceae

Light Requirement: Full to Partial Shade

Water Needs: Moist

Height: 4 – 6 in.

Spread: 4 – 6 in.

Growth Rate: Fast

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower Color: Purple

Wildlife Value: Attracts bees and butterflies

Landscape Uses and Maintenance – Sweet Violet

Sweet Violet is pleasing to the eye with its purple flowers and dark green heart shaped leaves. As harbingers of spring, these plants quickly emerge from the earth and bloom in the early spring months.

This plant adds a lovely, charming touch to your cottage garden, rock garden, or meadow garden, or even as an accent for your yard. When planted through grass the flowers appear like small purple dots studded throughout the landscape. Perfect in the shady border. For a modern take on this classic beauty, add it to raised areas of your garden that are at eye level or into a container for a truly pleasing display.

This plant will naturalize in the garden given the correct conditions. They grow very low to the ground and create an enticingly “sweet” groundcover you will enjoy year after year.

Plant it in an area that has plenty of moist and well draining soil. It thrives when planted in full to partial shade. Pair with Virginia bluebells, ferns, Bloodroot, and Dutchman’s Breeches for a beautiful and perennial spring display. Keep moist and water when conditions are dry, especially in drought.

They can spread via underground rhizomes and by seed.

Hop on by?  Though uncommon, rabbits will eat violets in the absence of their preferred food sources, so watch out for these cute but hungry critters in your garden. However, this plant is deer resistant.

This plant will attract bees, moths, and butterflies to your garden. It attracts Fritillaries in particular.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sweet Violet flowers are sweetly scented, and they were once often pressed for perfume extraction or placed in sachets worn at the hip.

They are a beloved plant and are the state flower for a few states: New Jersey included.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Spring

Bloom/Foliage Color

Purple

Height at Maturity

Under 12"

Care

Sweet Violets thrive in well-drained soil. Keep them consistently moist but not waterlogged. In early spring, fertilize lightly with a balanced fertilizer. Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Prune back after flowering to maintain shape and vigor.

Plant Reproduction

Sweet violet spreads quickly by short runners or can be propagated by seeds.

How to Grow and Care for Bare Root Perennials, Tubers, and Bulbs

Bare root perennials, tubers, and bulbs are an easy and economical way to jumpstart your garden with lasting beauty. These dormant plants should be planted in early spring or fall while the soil is cool and workable. Before planting, soak bare roots in water for 1–2 hours to rehydrate them. Choose a location based on the plant’s light needs—most flowering types prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade.

For bare root perennials, dig a shallow hole and spread the roots out naturally, ensuring the crown is level with the soil surface. For tubers and bulbs, plant with the pointed side facing up at a depth about two to three times their height. Cover with soil, gently press down, and water thoroughly.

Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy) until new growth appears. Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid covering the crown or bulb tops. Once established, these plants require little maintenance—just seasonal watering, occasional dividing, and deadheading or pruning as needed. With proper care, they’ll return and thrive year after year.

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