Horned Pansy Viola cornuta
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la kor-NOO-tuh
- Description
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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:
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- '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'
- '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:
- 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'
- '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:
-
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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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a three valves capsule. The seeds have an oily feel and are freely dispersed by ants.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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