Violet, Sweet (Viola odorata), packet of 20 seeds, organic
$4.95
Family: Violet (Violaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 9
(Sweet Violet) Spreading evergreen perennial groundcover, fully frost hardy and preferring moist soils in the shade or part sun. This is a German cultivar with light blue flowers peaking in early spring that emit the delicate, singular and delightful scent of violets, which in full bloom wafts fleetingly across the garden. Traditional use (TWM): oral antiseptic, antitussive, resolvent. The germination of violet seed is a fairly long affair. Seed sown in the fall will germinate in the spring. Maintain flat in cool, shady conditions. Seed sown in the early spring may germinate later in the spring, or it may take until the following spring (12 months, more or less) to come up. Space plants 1 foot apart–they will soon fill the interstices.
20 seeds/pkt., Certified Organically Grown
In stock
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Coleen Rausch (verified owner) –
So even if our temps get up into the 60’s next week – and soon the 70’s – it’s okay to leave my outdoor flat during the day? I was worried that our warm temps would ruin the cold stratification process, but I did move it back out at night during those few days of warmer weather. But now we are back into the 50’s.
And I will also move my flat in the fridge outdoors as well, and transfer the seeds to some soil. I just wanted to try different methods to ensure that at least one of them would work 😉
And I already purchased some potted plants from you when I bought the seeds, just in case 🙂
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Richo Cech –
good call, you’re on the right track. the main thing is to get the seeds planted and see what happens. temperatures that oscillate between cold and warm are ideal.
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Coleen Rausch (verified owner) –
Hi Richo! I have a few more questions about my Violets.
I have one flat that I planted in soil that I have outside in the shade as you suggested going on three weeks now. Last week our temps got up into the 60’s in the day, so I brought it into our cool garage and returned it back outside each night for our 30-40 degree temps.
I have another tray that I covered in plastic and placed in the refrigerator.
And I used the suggestion from a gardener to place the seeds on a damp paper towel in a baggy and put them in the refrigerator for a month. Should I add them to some medium instead?
My question is by the time any of these germinate (as you mentioned they are slow about that), will it be too late to sow them outdoors? When is the best time to sow them after they germinate?
Our temps will be slowly climbing into the 60’s next week, and may even start getting into the 70’s over the following weeks. Will that be too warm to plant them? And we can always count on another freeze or two here in Idaho in April and even May. So the cold isn’t completely over just yet.
Any advice or assurance would be greatly appreciated!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Coleen, Outdoor treatment means put the flat in moist shady outdoor conditions and leave it there until germination occurs. Snow, freezing, thawing and rain will leach germination inhibiting compounds, swell the seed and produce the desired results. Once the seedlings size up a bit, plant to pots and keep outdoors in the moist shade. When roots fill the pot, plant to the violet patch. It is better to use natural conditions than paper towels. Think of the seed. It is used to germinating in live soils. If all this is too much for you, we have potted Viola odorata for sale that will satisfy fully and quickly, Richo
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Coleen Rausch (verified owner) –
Thank you so much for the help, I truly appreciate it! Can’t wait to have my garden beds full of lovely Violets 🙂
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Coleen Rausch (verified owner) –
Thank you so much for responding! I will get the seeds planted this weekend. I’m wondering, though, if your suggestion to plant Viola is for the seeds as well, or just for the plants I will be receiving from you in April? I am actually hoping to have a large Violet patch in my yard because they are adorable and make me so happy 🙂
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Richo Cech –
Hi Coleen, Thanks for staying in touch! Seeds are best planted in flats and left outdoors to germinate and grow into plants. The plants, whether derived from seeds that you started or plants that we send you, are best transplanted into the sand and compost mix. richo
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Coleen Rausch (verified owner) –
I just received my Viola odorata seeds. I live in Idaho, and we still have freezing temps for the next 2-3 weeks at night and mid 30’s to 50’s in the day. Would that be enough time to “overwinter” the seeds? Or should I do the refrigerator method? If so, for how long before I could plant them?
Also, could you please share how to accomplish a “sandy forest loam” in my garden without actually living in the forest?
Looking forward to getting my Viola starts from you in April if my seeds don’t work out!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Coleen, thanks for writing! Still plenty cold enough to outdoor stratify your viola seeds–plant them right away. My favorite method of planting viola is to choose a mloist, shady spot, lay down a cardboard weed barrier, hold it down with sand and compost and plant my plants into that. THe area will soon become a violet patch. Richo
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Angela S. (verified owner) –
I received my seeds on Jan. 29, put them in a tepid soak on Jan. 30, then put them in a little slightly damp coco coir in my refrigerator to stratify. Today, Feb. 8, every single seed has a small root emerging and is ready to pot up. This is definitely good quality seed… now the rest is up to me. I look forward to putting these violets in my shady under-plantings in the spring!
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Question
Stephanie Villalobos –
Hey Richo, do these hold any benefits for the soil? Was wondering if they are nitrogen fixing and would be a good companion to elder but google is giving me no results
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Richo Cech –
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for writing. Viola odorata isn’t N-fixing. It readily forms cushy patches in the same cool, moist zones that are loved by elderberries. I like to plant my elderberry tree, surround it with cardboard as a weed barrier, cover with 4 inches of composted manure and sand to gently nourish the elderberry. Violets can be planted in the manure and sand, and will tend to stitch the whole thing together and keep the ground soft and moist. richo
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Stephanie Villalobos –
Thanks a bunch Richo, cardboard and manure it is
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Question
Catherine –
Hello, wondering if these ship in individual seed packets? If so, does the packet say the name Sweet Violet? Thinking of using them as a party favor for my daughter. Thank you!
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Richo Cech –
hi catherine, the seed packet is an individual seed packet with 20 seeds in it. it says sweet violet on the front of the packet. a better choice would be the 100 seed packet of heartsease violet. reason being, the heartsease violet can be sprinkled in any garden or pot of soil with fast and easy germination, while the sweet violet requires advanced seed planting ability. richo
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Tanya –
Would this cultivar also be used for candies and liqueur like the French variety?
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Richo Cech –
hi tanya, i think you’re referring to the violet of tourrette. What we have here, the german Viola odorata, is quite similar and can be used interchangeably. If you really want a fast start, I recommend the plants. There’s still time to get them before we shut down shipping and we’re shipping some really nice ones right now. they are for all practical purposes winter flowering. richo
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Nicole –
Hello, when will the seeds be back in stock?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Nicole,
New crop seed now in stock, feel free to order.
Richo
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Question
Nancy –
Is it possible to grow sweet violets in Phoenix, Arizona area. Or is it possible to grow them in containers?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Nancy,
In the moist shade, yes, if you can find that in phoenix…
Richo
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Leslie Beauchamp –
I have a big some that were in summer shade and winter sun under an ash tree. The ash died leaving the violets in full phoenix sun. They looked a little ragged in June but are back to looking good now.
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Dani –
Hello, how strong is the fragrance of these violets?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Dani,
In season, swoonworthy.
Richo
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Question
Amy –
Is it too late to start a flat of these in the front range of Colorado? Thanks Richo!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Amy,
Probably not too late, there is still quite a bit of cold available to you. Richo
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deanna jayne –
Hi Richo,
Could these seeds Viola odorata, be purchased in bulk? I need about 200 seeds. Thanks, deanna
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Richo Cech –
Hi Deanna,
I wish we could produce bulk on these, I’m sure that would be helpful. May I suggest that this late in the year it might be more productive to simply buy some plants and propagate them from runners?
Richo
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