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Viola arvensis is often confused with:
Viola bicolor Close up of flower
Native alternative(s) for Viola arvensis:
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Viola blanda Viola blanda
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Viola arvensis has some common insect problems:
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage

Violets Viola arvensis

Phonetic Spelling
vye-OH-lah ar-VEN-sis
Description

Field Pansies are annual to perennial flowers (depending on winter temperatures) in the Violaceae family.  Although their origin is Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, they have become introduced and naturalized in the United States.  They have showy two-toned fragrant flowers that appear from April to June.  If blooming slows with warm summer weather prune back to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

In their natural habitat, they can be found growing in dry open grounds along roadsides, beaches, old fields, meadows and bluffs.  They prefer humusy, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. 

If they are perennial in your area, plant them in naturalized areas or containers to keep them from spreading too much in a perennial garden.  If they are annuals use them in bedding, window boxes, and containers. In the wild, they can be found growing in fields, wastelands, meadows, and rocky outcrops in dry, sandy soil.

This self-seeding wildflower is easy to grow.  A common name, Johnny Jump-Up, comes from its trait of spontaneously jumping out of the ground.  Typically, where you don't expect it.

A relative of the pansy, field pansies are easily distinguished.  They are smaller than the pansy, less than 1" in diameter.  The plant size is also smaller, however, they make up for their small size by producing more blooms than the pansy.

Young leaves develop from a basal rosette.  They are rounded to oval with a shallowly toothed margin.  When leaves mature they are long and narrow with round-toothed margins.  Hairy veins appear on the underside of the leaf. The roots have a wintergreen scent when crushed.  

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to fungal leaf diseases. Watch for aphids, slugs and snails.  This plant is frequently damaged by deer. It may hybridize with other viola species in your garden. Read about the native viola listed to the left.

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:
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#fragrant flowers#nectar plant#winter interest#specialized bees#window boxes#herbaceous#deer browsing plant#border planting#bedding plants#pollinator plant#larval host plant#compact habit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#rabbit browsing plant#fritillary butterflies#container plant#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#fragrant flowers#nectar plant#winter interest#specialized bees#window boxes#herbaceous#deer browsing plant#border planting#bedding plants#pollinator plant#larval host plant#compact habit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#rabbit browsing plant#fritillary butterflies#container plant#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viola
    Species:
    cornuta
    Family:
    Violaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa
    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. Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, Bobwhite as well as some songbirds eat the seed.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herb
    Perennial
    Weed
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    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:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit are single-celled capsules with three valves.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    5 white to pale yellow petals sometimes tinged with purple with the lower petal being the largest. The 5 sepals are equal length as the petals, or can be slightly longer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Orbicular
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Dark green basal rosette leaves are round to oval with a few shallow teeth on the margins. Mature leaves are longer and narrower with round-toothed margins and hairy veins on the leaf underside.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Branched prostrate stems can be up to 16" long. Typically, have several stems branching at ground level, from the taproot.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Problems:
    Weedy