Viola blanda
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viola leconteana
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la BLAN-duh
- Description
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Sweet white violets are low maintenance, herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the violet family native to eastern North America. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing and spreading in disturbed areas, floodplains, forests, swamps and wetlands. The species epithet is Latin for “charming.”
This is an easy violet to grow. It tolerates almost any soil as long as it is moist and slightly acidic. It thrives in dappled sunlight or partial shade.
Basal leaves are heart-shaped and form clusters at the nodes along the stem runners. At maturity, they can reach a width of 2 1/2", are rounded, and may be blunt or pointed at their tips. The upper side of the leaf is smooth and may be covered with short hairs. The dark green leaves, as well as the stem may be tinged with red. The fragrant flowers are solitary, irregular and sit at the end of a bare scape. The two upper petals are narrower than most violets and may be twisted or curling. The lower petals are more protruding and can have a few hairs at the base. There are brown-purple veins on both the side and lower petals.
Sweet white violets are perennials that spread by runners (stolons) and can form a carpet-like ground cover. They naturalize easily in woodland, rock gardens, borders and shade gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viola
- Species:
- blanda
- Family:
- Violaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
- 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. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a hanging ovoid capsule about ΒΌ inch long, containing many small seeds that ripen to dark brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 5 petaled heart-shaped white flowers with the lower petal having purple veins. Upper petals are often twisted or bent backward. The stalk is red-tinged.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 2.5-inch heart-shaped leaves in a basal rosette with a few widely scattered hairs
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green stems, tinged with red.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
