Sweet violet – Queen Charlotte

Queen Charlotte Sweet Violet (Viola odorata ‘Queen Charlotte’) is a perennial herb in the Violaceae family. It prefers part shade to dappled shade and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and is hardy throughout New Zealand. It grows to around 10–15 cm tall and spreads 30–45 cm, forming low mats of heart-shaped leaves with violet-purple, highly fragrant flowers. Used as a culinary herb for its edible, fragrant flowers in desserts, salads and crystallised decorations, and as a traditional medicinal herb for soothing respiratory complaints. It is also a much-loved cottage garden and fragrant groundcover plant.