Viola, Purple Leaved Common Dog Violet 'Purpurea Group'

I had these growing in my garden in south central British Columbia - zone 6a, high altitude. They were the edging on a bed of Hostas that...Read More received morning sun only. I loved the contrasting color of their leaves around the Hostas and the fact that they seemed to spread by seed only and were easy to remove or move if they popped up in the wrong place. Quite a contrast to the native violets which have a very similar flower but ordinary leaves and spread aggressively by underground runners.

Viola riviniana Purpurea Group is a European species widely sold in the US under the misleading name of Viola labradorica.

...Read More The true Viola labradorica, native to North America, does not appear to be currently in cultivation.

The two names are not synonyms, but different species.

I find that the purple-tinted foliage is its chief ornamental asset. Greater light and cooler temperatures bring out the purple tones, and the leaves are greener in more shade and heat.

I find that the flowers are small and stingily produced, and their season is brief. They have no fragrance.

This isn't a plant for the tidy gardener. It won't form a neat edging to a bed, nor has it ever grown into a weed-suppressive groundcover for me.

My plants are substantially smaller than the several common weedy native species---the height is generally 1-4".

I find that individual plants are short-lived, and if I want to keep it I need to rely on its prolific self-sowing. That means I can't use a weed-suppressive mulch. It tends to grow where it wants to, and it doesn't pay a lot of attention to my ideas about where I want it to grow---it often tends to fade out there, for reasons I can't seem to discern.

It's a good plant for the "wild" looking garden under trees, if you don't mind that it isn't native.

Thanks Baa!
I purchased this grossly misnamed and finally had it ID'd as
Viola labradorica.
This led to finding the...Read More true ID here.

I've seen it in full bloom and pictures do not in any way do it justice.
Much more an eye catcher than most Violas.
The burgundy leaves set off the blooms perfectly.

Neutral as I just purchased it, but parent clump appears to be doing quite well here in SW OH.

Viola labradorica var. Purpurea of Gardens often still sold as this. The true Labrador Violet (V. labradorica) is hard to find and a nat...Read Moreive of Canada and North USA.

Almost hairless perennial with small, heart shaped, burgandy coloured leaves. Bears small blue/violet coloured flowers with a purple spur in March to May and often July through to September. This is a varient of the European native Common Dog Violet.

Self seeds everywhere and may even become invasive over time but great for a wood/wild flower garden.