Species horned violet
violet-yellow flowers with lime leaves

horned violet

Viola cornuta

Horned Violet (Viola cornuta) is a small herbaceous perennial native to dry rocky slopes in Europe and North America. It is easily recognisable by its violet-blue flower with waved petals and a white base and a short, curved horn projecting from the center of the flower. The leaves are rough and lance-shaped. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, while the leaves are edible and have a pleasant nut-like flavour. Horned violets are typically found in sunny locations, and they thrive in sandy soils with good drainage. They’re easy to care for and rarely require fertiliser—just give them plenty of sunshine and water when needed.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Layering Propagation,Cutting,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 11

Flowers:

Blue, violet, lavender (bicolors) Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Horned violets should be watered deeply and regularly to encourage healthy growth. Watering should be done twice a week, making sure to thoroughly saturate the soil. Allow the soil to become almost dry between watering, as too much water can cause root rot. During the summer season, when horned violets are actively growing, an additional watering may be necessary if soil dries out more quickly.

sunlight

Horned violet plants prefer to receive partial shade or filtered sunlight for at least 4-6 hours a day. During the summer months, the best time of day to receive this amount of sunlight is from 9am-3pm. If planted in direct sun, these plants may need to be staked to support the stems from drooping. In the winter months, sunlight should be reduced to a few hours a day. During morning hours will be best in the winter months to provide the plants enough light without scorching them.

pruning

Horned violets (Viola cornuta) should be pruned in the early spring before new growth begins, usually sometime between February or March. Prune away any damaged or dead foliage first, and then remove up to 1-third of the overall plant height. Prune the stems by cutting them back to just above a healthy bud or leaf. Cut all flowering stems all the way back to the base to encourage new growth. This will also help ensure the plant retains its compact shape. Pruning in the springtime helps create more blooms throughout the summer, as well as encouraging stronger stems.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Viola cornuta typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in April or May.

Hardiness Map