Viola odorata Alba

Viola odorata 'Alba' is the European violet, growing spontaneously in woodlands. In the garden, it self-seeds itself everywhere in the shaded areas, even dry ones, and forms carpets where many perennials struggle to grow.

This perennial ground cover forms rounded clumps of heart-shaped leaves that spread through short stolons. In March, April, its numerous small white flowers emit a delightful fragrance.

Its white flowers brighten up dark areas of the garden, Viola odorata 'Alba' thrives in border plantings or rock gardens with primroses, Solomon's seals, and small ferns.

Violets and pansies are part of the Viola genus. How to differentiate a violet from a pansy? By the arrangement of their petals: the former has two upright petals and three downward-facing petals, while the latter has four upright petals, with the fifth, larger than the others, drooping. Violets are almost all native to temperate regions of the globe. The vast majority of them are perennials, but hybrids with large flowers are sold and used as annual plants.