Common Name: Woolly Blue Violet

General Information

Viola sororia is a stemless herbaceous perennial plant growing from a thick, fleshy rhizome; it forms a mat of growth around 6 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and insect repellent. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ]. The flowers of this species are deep blue violet to white[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. America - Northwest Territory, British Colombia to Nova Scotoa, south to California, Texas and Florida

Habitat

Moist meadows, low woods and shady banks[, ], often on sandy substrates[]. Dry to mesic habitats in woods, thickets, stream banks, moist prairies, pastures, disturbed ground, not in saturated soil; at elevations up to 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds[, 352[. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5.
There are a number of named varieties selected for their ornamental value[].
The plant often self-seeds freely, to the point of being weedy in optimum growing conditions[].
Like several other members of this genus, this species has two types of flower. The first type has petals and is pollinated by insects, the second type, known as cleistogamous, does not have petals, never opens, but self-fertilizes and produces fertile seed[].
All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[, ]. A mild flavour, they make an acceptable addition to mixed salads[]. The leaves are often mixed with stronger tasting leaves from the cabbage family[]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as Okra[, , , ]. The leaves are rich in vitamins A and C[, ].

Flowers - raw. A mild flavour, they are an excellent attractive garnish for salads[]. Rich in vitamin C[].The flowers can also be made into jams, jellies etc[].

A tea can be made from the leaves[] or from the flowers[].

Medicinal

A poultice of the leaves has been used to allay the pain of a headache[].

An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of dysentery, coughs and colds[].

A poultice of the crushed root has been applied to boils[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used as a ground cover, growing well under shrubs[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the root has been used to soak corn seeds before planting in order to keep off insects[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.