Violets are not just violets. The sweet violets, pansies and horned violets are particularly well known. But these are by no means all species. Here you can get a comprehensive overview of the most important representatives.

The sweet violets are among the best-known types of violets

The most famous 3 types

The violets are a genus within the plant family of the violet family. There are more than 500 species of them worldwide. They mainly inhabit the temperate latitudes of the earth. The sweet violets (Viola odorata) are particularly well known. Like their name, they are fragrant. They bloom between March and May and feature purple flowers.

Horned violets (Viola cornuta) have a completely different effect. They are faintly scented and bloom between April and October. There are numerous cultivars of them, which can be in a wide variety of colors and also multicolored.

The third well-known violet is the garden pansy. It is very similar to the horned violet. But its flowers are bigger. There are also many different colored cultivars on the market.

Less known, but interesting nonetheless

Here are other species with their flower color, flowering time and other characteristics:

  • Marsh Violet: light violet, small, April to June
  • Wood Violet: light violet or white, April to May
  • Grove Violet: blue-purple, April to June
  • Parma violets: double, intensely fragrant, blue-violet, white or light blue, March to May
  • Australian violet: white, May to September, not hardy
  • Whitsun violet: white, pink-red or violet-blue, May to June

Also the low violet, pinnate violet, penny-leaved violet, Pyrenean violet, blue violet, wild pansy, bog violet, field pansy, yellow violet, longspur violet, hill violet, tall violet and miracle violet should not go unmentioned…

Peculiarities of violets

Violets are important as ornamental plants, medicinal plants, kitchen plants and in perfumery. The decorative representatives, which are often planted in gardens, are, for example, the grove violet 'Purpurea' and the Whitsun violets 'Albiflora' and 'Freckles'. All violets are between 5 and 10 cm high, are persistent and form stolons. They have long-stalked leaves.

The flowers are always fivefold and capsule fruits are formed from them. The flowering time varies from violet to violet. All species are edible, rich in vitamin C, salicylic acid and essential oils.

tips and tricks

The poisonous African violets, which are popular as houseplants, do not belong to the violet genus.

Category:

Indoor plants