Sweet white violets are low maintenance, herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the violet family native to eastern North America. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing and spreading in disturbed areas, floodplains, forests, swamps and wetlands. The species epithet is Latin for “charming.” This is an easy violet to grow. It tolerates almost any soil as long as it is moist and slightly acidic. It thrives in dappled sunlight or partial shade. Basal leaves are heart-shaped and form clusters at the nodes along the stem runners. At maturity, they can reach a width of 2 1/2", are rounded, and may be blunt or pointed at their tips. The upper side of the leaf is smooth and may be covered with short hairs. The dark green leaves, as well as the stem may be tinged with red. The fragrant flowers are solitary, irregular and sit at the end of a bare scape. The two upper petals are narrower than most violets and may be twisted or curling. The lower petals are more protruding and can have a few hairs at the base. There are brown-purple veins on both the side and lower petals. Sweet white violets are perennials that spread by runners (stolons) and can form a carpet-like ground cover. They naturalize easily in woodland, rock gardens, borders and shade gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues. More information on Viola .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
1 to 2.5-inch heart-shaped leaves in a basal rosette with a few widely scattered hairs
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Tubular; Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
5 petaled heart-shaped white flowers with the lower petal having purple veins. Upper petals are often twisted or bent backward. The stalk is red-tinged.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
The fruit is a hanging ovoid capsule about ¼ inch long, containing many small seeds that ripen to dark brown.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green stems, tinged with red.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Fragrance; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden