Sweet Violet

Sweet violet (Viola odorata) is a low, shade-loving perennial with heart-shaped leaves and small, deeply fragrant purple flowers that bloom in earliest spring. Both its scent and delicate flavor have made it a favorite for candying and perfuming since Victorian times.

Growing Sweet Violet

Sweet violet thrives in the dappled shade under trees or shrubs, spreading by runners to form a low, spring-blooming ground cover over time. It's easy and largely trouble-free, needing only reasonably moist, humus-rich soil to establish and naturalize.

Culinary & Traditional Uses

Candied violet flowers, coated in a thin layer of sugar, are a classic old-fashioned decoration for cakes and desserts, and fresh blossoms make an elegant garnish for salads or drinks. Violet flowers are also infused into syrups and, historically, perfumes, prized for a scent that's difficult to replicate synthetically.