Viola canadensis - Canada Violet

Family:	Violaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.4
Width:	0.25
Synonyms:
Range:	N. America - Saskatchewan and south to Nebraska and the Rocky mountains.

Viola canadensis (Canada Violet) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.4m and a width of 0.25m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Canada Violet will flower in October to January. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Canada Violet will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
Canada Violet prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Canada Violet can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Rich soils in deciduous woods and forests in the mountains[43, 62, 187].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in any fertile soil in full sun or partial shade[233]. Prefers a cool position[233] in a moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. Hardy to about -25°c[187]. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[62, 85, 159]. This species has mainly white flowers that are at first yellowish at the base then turn violet[222]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[62, 177, 183]. A very mild flavour, when boiled as greens they are best mixed with other stronger tasting leaves[183]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[62, 85, 159]. Flowers - raw[62, 85]. The leaves are a good tea substitute[62, 85, 183].

• Flowers -
• Leaves -
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A tea made from the roots has been used in the treatment of pain in the bladder region[222, 257]. The roots and leaves have traditionally been used to induce vomiting, they have also been poulticed and applied to skin abrasions and boils[222].

• Emetic - Induces vomiting.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

'' - There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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