Viola odorata Red Charm

Viola odorata 'Red Charm' is a quite charming variety of sweet violet, which stands out from the wild species that we encounter in the undergrowth with the deep pink-purple colour of its fragrant flowers. This creeping perennial with creeping rhizomes will eventually form large evergreen mats in winter, of a beautiful dark green, flowering quite early at the end of winter or early spring. In the garden, it easily settles in shady areas, even occasionally dry, and forms mats where many perennials struggle to grow.

Viola odorata is the European violet, also known as Sweet Violet, English Violet, Garden Violet, Common Violet, English Violet, March Violet. This small perennial of the Violaceae family is native to open woods, edges, hedges, lawns, meadows, and roadside verges. 'Red Charm' differs mainly in the colour of its flowers. This groundcover perennial forms rounded clumps of heart-shaped leaves that spread thanks to short stolons. The foliage, more or less evergreen, may disappear in summer in case of drought. In March and April, its numerous small dark pink flowers with spurs exhale a delicious fragrance. The flower of the sweet violet is commonly used in pastry; the leaves are also edible.

The Red Charm sweet violet will thrive in a semi-shady exposure. It can be used as a border plant or in rock gardens with primroses, pasque flowers, Solomon's seals, and small ferns. It can also be grown in pots or containers placed on the windowsill (for the delicate fragrance), or on the patio, without forgetting to water it.

Violets and pansies belong to the Viola genus. How to differentiate a violet from a pansy? By the arrangement of their petals: the former has two upright petals and three downward-facing petals, while the latter has four upright petals, with the fifth, larger than the others, bowing its head. Violets are almost all native to temperate regions of the globe. The vast majority of them are perennials, but large-flowered hybrids are sold and used as annual plants.