Viola odorata 'Sweet Violet'

[Ex. Teesdale, 75m., England]

Violaceae: a fragrant perennial herb to 15cm. found growing in hedgerows and woods, mostly on calcareous soils. The flowers are white, blooming from February-May. The leaves are large and heart-shaped. Widespread and locally common in England and Wales. Europe, from Norway south and east to North Africa, Western Asia and Syria.

USES:

The young leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are usually available all through the winter. The leaves have a very mild flavour, though they soon become quite tough as they grow older. They make a very good salad, their mild flavour enabling them to be used in bulk whilst other stronger-tasting leaves can then be added to give more flavour. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. Also used as a flavouring in puddings. A tea can be made from the leaves. The flowers can be used raw to decorate salads and desserts. A sweet mild flavour with a delicate perfume, the flowers are an especially welcome decoration for the salad bowl since they are available in late winter. The flowers are also used fresh to flavour and colour confectionery. A soothing tea can be made from the leaves and flowers. A leaf extract is used to flavour sweets, baked goods and ice cream.

Sweet violet has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough. It also contains salicylic acid, which is used to make aspirin. It is therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. The whole plant has anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, and laxative properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Seed is best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. The seed requires a period of cold stratification and the germination of stored seed can be erratic. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.

HARVESTED: 2022

 
APPROX. 40 SEEDS