Viola blanda
sweet white violet
Overview
Viola blanda is a small, stemless perennial 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) tall, spreading by slender above-ground runners to form low colonies. The leaves are heart-shaped, 0.75-2 inches (2-5 cm) wide, with finely toothed edges and a glossy upper surface, rising on slim stalks directly from the rootstock. White flowers about 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) across appear on leafless stalks among the leaves, the lower three petals marked with thin purple veins and the upper two often twisted back and downward. The flowers carry a sweet scent. In addition to the open spring flowers, the plant produces closed, self-pollinating flowers near ground level later in the season that set seed without opening. Flowering runs from April to June in cool, shaded woods. It grows in moist, humus-rich soil of deciduous forests, streambanks, and shaded slopes across eastern North America. A limitation in the garden is its need for steady moisture and shade, since the plant wilts and goes dormant in dry, sunny conditions.
Native Range
Viola blanda is native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south through New England and the Appalachians to Georgia, and west to the Great Lakes region. It grows in cool, moist, shaded forests, often alongside streams and seeps.Suggested Uses
Grown as a ground cover in shade gardens, woodland borders, and along shaded paths, spaced 6-9 inches (15-23 cm) apart. Suited to moist, shaded sites under deciduous trees and shrubs. The spring flowers draw early native bees and other small insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 5"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Open, scented white flowers appear from April to June in cool shade. Later in the season the plant forms closed, self-pollinating flowers at ground level that set seed without opening. These hidden flowers produce most of the plant's seed.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with purple veinsFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Viola blanda grows in part to full shade and consistently moist, humus-rich soil. It establishes from seed or by division of the runners and spreads slowly into low colonies. The plant needs steady moisture and cool conditions; it wilts and goes dormant where soil dries out in summer. A layer of leaf litter or compost keeps the roots cool and moist. In suitable shade it self-sows and naturalises through woodland plantings.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent leaves and flower stalks die back on their own and can be left as ground litter. Thinning the runners controls spread where the colony outgrows its space.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons