Common Blue Violet
Viola sororia
Common Blue Violet is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to shade and partial shade and clay or loam, flowering Apr, May, Jun.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 15 cm |
| Spread | 30 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-9b |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Not confirmed |
Where to use it in a border
At around 15 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 9b, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Common Blue Violet's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Blue Mistflowerto edge in front
- Cardinal Flowerfor height behind it
- Great Blue Lobeliato flower when it does not
- Turtlehead 'Hot Lips'to flower when it does not
- White Turtleheadto flower when it does not
- Wild Daffodilto flower when it does not
Garden styles
Meadow Native Wildlife garden Woodland
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: