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Viola canadensis (Canadian Violet)

Canadian Violet, Canada Violet, Hens, Tall White Violet, Canadian White Violet

Viola canadensis, Canadian Violet, Canada Violet, Hens, Tall White Violet, Canadian White Violet, Shade plants, shade perennial, violet flowers, plants for shade, fragrant perennials

Viola canadensis (Canadian Violet) is a clump-forming perennial boasting fragrant flowers adorned with 5 white petals which can have a purple tinge on their back, particularly the upper two petals. The petals are distinctly yellow at the base and the lower petals feature purple veins serving as nectar guides. Blooming from summer to fall (depending on geographic location), they are borne solitary on short, naked stalks, which arise from the upper leaf axils, and hang and face outward. They rise just above the foliage of dark green leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), which is heart-shaped and finely toothed. Perfect for the shade garden, Canadian Violet is at home in woodland gardens, wildflower gardens or naturalized areas.

  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm). This plant freely self-seeds, sometimes aggressively, and can form large, dense colonies.
  • A part shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Prefers dappled sunlight to light shade during the spring, but tolerates greater shade during the summer.
  • Deer resistant, it is generally pest and disease free.
  • Propagation is by seed or division of plants with off-shoots.
  • Native to North America.

Violets (Viola): How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for Violets like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these charming plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Violaceae
Genus Viola
Common names Violet
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Dakota, Iowa, Midwest, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Colorado, Alaska
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer
Garden Uses Ground Covers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Viola palustris (Marsh Violet)
Viola sempervirens (Evergreen Violet)
Viola pedatifida (Prairie Violet)
Viola glabella (Pioneer Violet)
Viola rotundifolia (Round-Leaved Violet)
Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

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Violets (Viola): How to Grow and Care with Success
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Violaceae
Genus Viola
Common names Violet
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 12" - 18"
(30cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Dakota, Iowa, Midwest, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Colorado, Alaska
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer
Garden Uses Ground Covers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Viola (Violet)
Not sure which Viola (Violet) to pick?
Compare Now

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