How do you recognise Sweet violet (Viola odorata)?

Leaf

Yoan Martin, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0

Sweet violet

Viola odorata L.

Family: Violaceae

5 to 15 cm tall

Woodland understorey, hedges, shaded banks

Flowering: February – April

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

Hardy to -15°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

One of the few wild flowers whose scent is recognisable with your eyes closed. Wild pansy has larger tricoloured flowers borne on an upright leafy stem, with no notable scent, whereas sweet violet has small fragrant violet or white flowers borne close to the ground on a stoloniferous plant with no visible stem.

🍃 Leaves

Heart-shaped, toothed, in a basal rosette

🌸 Flowers

Dark violet (sometimes white), very fragrant, five unequal petals

🍎 Fruits

Small capsule opening into three valves

🪵 Bark

Herbaceous plant, creeping stolons

🗺️ Distribution

Europe, western Asia, North Africa; common in hedges, open woodland and banks in France.

🐝 Value for pollinators

Early, very fragrant flowers, visited by the first bees; also produces self-fertile cleistogamous flowers later in the season.

✂️ Horticultural uses

Ground cover for woodland and shaded borders; scent sought after in perfumery (Toulouse), flowers crystallised in confectionery.

⚠️ Possible toxicity

No known toxicity, flowers edible and fragrant.

⚠️ Look-alike species

Sweet violet

Viola odorata

Wild pansy

Viola tricolor

Wild pansy has larger tricoloured flowers borne on an upright leafy stem, with no notable scent, whereas sweet violet has small fragrant violet or white flowers borne close to the ground on a stoloniferous plant with no visible stem.

🌿 Other Violaceae to discover

Wild pansy

Viola tricolor

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.