A beautiful burst of purple. This diminutive flower is hardy and easy to maintain. Use the flowers and leaves in salads and desserts – they have a mild wintergreen flavour.
Like other viola species, Viola cornuta is a good source of polyphenols (Moliner et al 2019) and shows high antioxidant activity (Demasi et al 2020).
Check out our story, “Edible Ornamental Flowers and Antioxidants” in the magazine, Canada’s Local Gardener. You can read the digital version HERE.
And see our Musing for information about the health benefits of Edible Flowers.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Moderate. Seeds need darkness for germination. This is the most important thing to know about starting Viola cornuta from seed. Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, cover lightly with soil. And then place newspaper, black plastic or aluminum foil over the container/seed tray. Viola seeds usually germinate in 1-2 weeks. You can also sow seeds directly outdoors. Viola does best in a semi-shady spot.
Location: Sun, Partial sun
Life cycle: Annual (or Perennial in Zones 6+)
Usable Parts: Flowers, Leaves (dried, fresh)
Uses: Salad, Dessert
Height: 3 to 4 inches
