Horned Violet, Bedding Pansy, Tufted Pansy,
Viola cornuta
Family: Violaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Purple. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Spreading or horizontal.
Viola cornuta is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
Mountain pastures.
S. W. Europe - Spain, Pyrenees. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. Flowers - raw. A tea can be made from the leaves.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
A useful ground cover plant for a cool open situation. It needs weeding for the first year or two but then forms an effective weed-excluding cover. Plants are best spaced about 60cm apart each way.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Rock garden, Woodland garden. Easily grown in any fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Prefers a well-drained moisture-retentive soil. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. A very ornamental plant, there are many named forms. If the plants are cut back after flowering they will flower again in late summer. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. This species has deep-violet flowers. Special Features: Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Best place to grow: Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 6-11
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist