Growing Guide
 
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Violet, Horned

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Viola cornuta
Violaceae Family

This easy-to-grow, spreading perennial covers the ground with blankets of starry violet blooms from spring into summer, then often blooms again in fall. Other varieties have white, yellow, maroon or peach flowers. Only hardy to Zone 6.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers moist but well-drained soil.

Hardiness zones:

  • 6 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.33 to 1 feet

Spread: 0.33 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

  • late spring
  • early summer
  • late summer
  • early fall

Flower color:

  • yellow
  • violet
  • white

Flowers of the species are pale violet. Other varieties have white, yellow, maroon or peach flowers.

Foliage color: dark green

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive - Spreads by rhizomes, but not difficult to contain.
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Spain.
  • fragrant - Blooms have a slightly sweet aroma.
Special uses:
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Sow the seeds in late summer. Divide in early spring or late fall. Cut the plants back by � before dividing to minimize stress on the plant.

Maintenance and care:
Cut the plants back after the first flowering to encourage bloom in late summer/early fall.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:
Green peach aphid
Citrus mealybug
Mites
Celery (greenhouse) leaftier
Sawfly
Slugs and snails
Varieties
�Admiration�: deep blue blooms.

�Arkwright Ruby�: vivid maroon blooms with a darker maroon patch and yellow center �eye�.

�Boughton Blue�: pale blue blooms.

�Blue Perfection�: pale blue blooms with white central �eye.�

�Chantreyland�: large, pale peach blooms.

�Jersey Gem� dark purple-blue blooms on long stems.

�Moon Moth�: large white blooms with deep blue markings.

�Scottish Yellow�: pale yellow blooms with deeper yellow-orange centers.

�White Perfection�: snow white blooms.

�Yellow Perfection�: vivid yellow blooms.

var. alba: white blooms

var. lilacina: heat tolerant plants with pale lilac blooms. Flowers all summer.

var. purpurea: violet blooms