Sweet Violet

Viola odorata

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Creeping perennial to 15cm tall, with a rosette of kidney-shaped leaves and long rooting stolons. Long-stalked flowers are spurred, and dark violet or white. Also called English Violet, March Violet and Sweet Pansy.

DISTRIBUTION

Native throughout much of Europe.

USES

Flowers form the base for perfume and for a wine. They can be candied and used as cake decorations, and added fresh to salads and desserts. Contains methyl salicylate, from which aspirin is derived, and is a traditional treatment for headaches. Tea made from the leaves, or a syrup made from the flowers, is used to soothe bronchial complaints and coughs.

Heartsease

Viola tricolor

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

Branching hairless or downy-hairy annual, biennial or perennial to 12cm tall. Lower leaves are ovate, upper leaves oblong. Flowers are yellow, violet or bicoloured, and unequal; the lower petal bears a spur 6mm long. Also called Wild Pansy and Love Lies Bleeding.

DISTRIBUTION

Most of Europe.

USES

Flowers can be added to salads or used to decorate desserts. Has been used for gout, arthritis and respiratory disorders, and in ointment form for eczema and acne.