Viola sororia 'Freckles' (Freckled Violet)

Viola sororia 'Freckles' is a cultivar of common blue violet, a low-growing violet native to the eastern half of the United States. The 'Freckles' cultivar, as you might have been able to tell from the name, is noted for its adorable white flowers, speckled and freckled with violet-purple. Flowers add a pop of showy color from mid-spring to early summer, atop the flower's attractive green foliage, and blooms attract a number of pollinators to the garden while also standing out from many other ornamental violets.

Performing best in part shade or dappled sunlight, as is found in their natural woodland environments, Viola sororia 'Freckles' is a short, slow-spreading groundcover, growing to only 6-8" tall and spreading about as wide without becoming aggressive; though common blue violet doesn't spread by roots or runners, it can reseed fairly easily, so care should be taken with choosing an appropriate planting location. Violets in general are especially attractive to butterflies, and 'Freckles' is no exception, and though Viola sororia typically grows best in medium-moist, well-drained soil, this cultivar is also drought tolerant, making it an excellent choice for areas with dry shade or as an underplanting for larger shrub beds or woodland gardens. As a bonus, 'Freckles' blooms can be used in miniature bouquets or even herb gardens, since its flowers and leaves are edible!