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Viola cornuta

Phonetic Spelling
vy-OH-la kor-NOO-tuh
Description

Native to the Pyrenees, this popular viola with a light fragrance is often used as a bedding plant. They spread by creeping, ascending stems to 12” wide. They are typically grown as perennials, however, can also be grown as biennials or annuals.  

Blooming in the spring make this a great companion plant for tulips.

It is a hermaphrodite plant (having both male and female organs) and is pollinated by insects.

Blooms are typically two-toned, with blue, violet and lavender being the typical colors.  Cultivars can include red, white, yellow and apricot.  

Extended period of hot weather can bring on a decline in flowering.  Cut the plants back to create the possibility of another bloom when temperatures decline.  Deadheading can also trigger new buds to appear.

The young leaves and flower buds are edible both raw or cooked.  Tea can be made from the foliage.  

The common name, Horned Violet, refers to the long, thin, upward pointing nectar spur.  Pansy flowers can be distinguished from violets by examining the petals.  Pansies have four petals facing up and one facing down while Viola Cornuta has 2 petals facing upwards and three facing downwards.

They grow best in humusy, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. They tend to bloom during cooler weather and stop during the heat of summer. There are many cultivars that extend the color palette. 

Growing in a bed may require weeding until the plants become more established.  Once that occurs, they will be an effective cover that weeds may find difficult to penetrate.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Snails and slugs may affect this plant as well as fungal leaf diseases.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Admiration'
    Deep blue blooms
  • 'Arkwright Ruby'
    Maroon blooms with darker maroon patch, yellow center.
  • 'Blue Perfection'
    Pale blue blooms with white center.
  • 'Boughton Blue'
    Pale blue blooms.
  • 'Chantreyland'
    Large, pale peach blooms.
  • 'Halo Violet'
    Violet cultivar.
  • 'Jersey Gem'
    Dark purple-blue blooms, long stems.
  • 'Moon Moth'
    Large white blooms, deep blue markings.
  • Penny™ Deep Blue
  • Penny™ Red Blotch
  • 'Scottish Yellow'
    Pale yellow blooms with deeper yellow-orange center.
  • var. alba
    White blooms.
  • var. lilacina
    Heat tolerant, plant lilac blooms, flower all summer.
  • var. purpurea
    Violet blooms.
  • 'White Perfection'
    Snow white blooms.
  • 'Yellow Perfection'
    Vivid yellow blooms.
'Admiration', 'Arkwright Ruby', 'Blue Perfection', 'Boughton Blue', 'Chantreyland', 'Halo Violet', 'Jersey Gem', 'Moon Moth', Penny™ Deep Blue, Penny™ Red Blotch, 'Scottish Yellow', var. alba, var. lilacina, var. purpurea, 'White Perfection', 'Yellow Perfection'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#edible plant#biennial#edible flowers#spring flowers#winter interest#herbaceous#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#edible landscaping#groundcover#multicolored#pollinator plant#edible garden#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#black walnut toxicity tolerant#fritillary butterflies#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Admiration'
    Deep blue blooms
  • 'Arkwright Ruby'
    Maroon blooms with darker maroon patch, yellow center.
  • 'Blue Perfection'
    Pale blue blooms with white center.
  • 'Boughton Blue'
    Pale blue blooms.
  • 'Chantreyland'
    Large, pale peach blooms.
  • 'Halo Violet'
    Violet cultivar.
  • 'Jersey Gem'
    Dark purple-blue blooms, long stems.
  • 'Moon Moth'
    Large white blooms, deep blue markings.
  • Penny™ Deep Blue
  • Penny™ Red Blotch
  • 'Scottish Yellow'
    Pale yellow blooms with deeper yellow-orange center.
  • var. alba
    White blooms.
  • var. lilacina
    Heat tolerant, plant lilac blooms, flower all summer.
  • var. purpurea
    Violet blooms.
  • 'White Perfection'
    Snow white blooms.
  • 'Yellow Perfection'
    Vivid yellow blooms.
'Admiration', 'Arkwright Ruby', 'Blue Perfection', 'Boughton Blue', 'Chantreyland', 'Halo Violet', 'Jersey Gem', 'Moon Moth', Penny™ Deep Blue, Penny™ Red Blotch, 'Scottish Yellow', var. alba, var. lilacina, var. purpurea, 'White Perfection', 'Yellow Perfection'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#edible plant#biennial#edible flowers#spring flowers#winter interest#herbaceous#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#edible landscaping#groundcover#multicolored#pollinator plant#edible garden#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#black walnut toxicity tolerant#fritillary butterflies#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viola
    Species:
    cornuta
    Family:
    Violaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    France and Spain
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Edibility:
    Flowers and leaves are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Creeping
    Erect
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a three valves capsule. The seeds have an oily feel and are freely dispersed by ants.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Lipped
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers have 5 petals in two-tones colors of white, lavender and blues. 4 petals a upright or fanned and 1 petal faces downward.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Rounded, toothed, evergreen leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer