Viola tricolor

RHS Plant Profile
heart's ease

Other common names

black eye, cat's faces, come-and-cuddle-me, constancy, cuddle-me-to-you, cull-me-to-you, Cupid's flower, fancy, flamy, flower of thought, garden gate, hearts in ease, herb Trinity, Jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me, Johnny-jump-up, jump-up-and-kiss-me, kiss-and-look-up, kiss-her-in-the-buttery, kiss-me, kiss-me-at-the-garden-gate, kiss-me-ere-I-rise, kiss-me-love, Kit-run-about, Kitty-come, Kitty-run, lady's delight, little faces, live-in-idleness, love-in-idleness, loving idol, lowly down, meet-her-in-the-entry-kiss-her-in-the-buttery, pansy, pink of my Joan, pink of my John, pretty face, stepmother plant, thinking flower, three faces under a hood, tickle-my-fancy, tricolor pansy, wild pansy, wild violet, bird's eye, none-so-pretty

Annual Biennial Herbaceous Perennial

A tufted annual, biennial or short-lived, evergreen perennial with spreading stems, producing flowers 2.5cm or more across, from spring to autumn. The blooms typically have dark purple upper petals, pale purple or pale yellow middle petals and a dark yellow lower petal, with dark streaks creating a whiskery 'face'. Other colours may include lavender blue and cream

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Violaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Viola can be annuals, biennials or deciduous or evergreen perennials, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and 5-petalled flowers of characteristic shape
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best in moist soil but will grow in any moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged soils. Full sun or partial shade is best but shade is tolerated

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in late winter or early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, violet gall midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, pansy leaf spot, a virus and a rust