Violets-Flower of the Month

February is usually a cold wet month, but it has an especially fragrant treat, the violet. In the Sunset Western Garden Book, it is listed under Viola. Viola adunca, the California Sweet Violet or Western Dog Violet is native to coastal bluffs and Sierra foothills in central California, Pacific Northwest east to New England. That said, it is the easiest plant to grow and stands 3-6 inches high, spreading indefinitely by seeds and stolons (creeping horizontal plant stems or runners that takes root at points along its length to form new plants). I can attest to the ease of growing violets, as I took a few from my Mother’s garden and they have moved with me to four homes in Solano County. This darling little February flower has dark green heart shaped leaves with lavender blue with white petal bases and bright orange stamens. If you are extremely patient, you can enjoy their beautiful fragrance by gathering a small bouquet for your house. They bloom with at least a half-day winter sun, and summer shade. They take various soils and can be invasive or affective ground cover in a slightly shaded area of your garden. I actually like a few violets in the lawn. Often they are sold in nurseries as Viola odorata.

Sweet purple violets. (photo by Karen Norton)

Read more