Viola Queen Charlotte

Viola odorata ‘Queen Charlotte’ is a classic sweet violet, loved for its deep violet-blue blooms and intense fragrance. A hardy, spreading perennial, it is particularly well-suited to shaded or semi-shaded garden areas, where it forms attractive low-growing clumps that flower profusely in late winter to early spring. The dainty, nodding blooms sit just above heart-shaped green foliage and are a magnet for early-season pollinators.

Ideal for woodland borders, underplanting trees, path edges and even shady containers, ‘Queen Charlotte’ brings colour and scent to often-overlooked areas. Its neat form and subtle trailing habit also make it a lovely choice for naturalised plantings or mixed with spring bulbs like snowdrops and crocuses.

Transplant seedlings into well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, spacing plants 15–20 cm apart. Once established, they require little care beyond occasional watering during dry spells and removal of spent blooms to encourage more flowering.

Seeds may benefit from pre-chilling and little or no covering when sown for improved germination results.

Stratify: Chilling seeds in the fridge for 2-3 weeks prior to sowing will promote germination by breaking seed dormancy.