Viola riviniana var. purpurea

The Dog Violet is a lovely form with purple foliage, a wild species commonly found in our woodlands. This creeping perennial with its creeping rhizomes will eventually form large evergreen mats in winter, with beautiful bronze-purple young foliage that gradually turns dark green. From April to May, it is adorned with small violet flowers, which are odourless. In the garden, this violet easily establishes itself in shady areas with humus-rich and moist soil, forming mats where many perennials struggle to grow.

If we are talking about Viola labradorica here, it is because this pretty perennial has long been misnamed. Indeed, the true Dog Violet, as its name suggests, is not European but Canadian. The species in question is actually a subspecies of Viola riviniana, a native violet originating from open woods, edges, hedges, short grass meadows, prairies, and roadside verges.  Thus, Viola riviniana var. purpurea is a small ground-covering perennial of the Violaceae family. It forms rounded clumps of heart-shaped, dentate-edged leaves that spread via short stolons. The foliage, more or less evergreen, may disappear in summer during droughts. It is dark green, tinged with bronze-purple on young foliage or when exposed to sunlight. In April-May, small dark violet flowers appear among the foliage. Each flower is composed of five petals, with a lower petal having a spur. Although odourless, they are nectar-rich and rather large for a wild violet, 2 cm (1in) in diameter, and it is hard not to be charmed by their spontaneous and delicate appearance. This violet readily self-seeds in the garden and can be easily divided by separating small clumps.

Viola riviniana var. purpurea thrives in partially shaded positions. It can be used in border plantings or rockeries with primroses, pasqueflowers, Solomon's Seal, and small ferns. It can also be grown in pots or containers placed on windowsills or patios, with regular watering.

Good to know: Violets and pansies belong to the Viola genus. How can you 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 petal drooping. Violets are almost all native to temperate regions of the world. The majority of them are perennials, but hybrids with large flowers are sold and used as annual plants.