Viola ‘King Henry’
(Viola cornuta)

‘King Henry’ is a small, clumping, easy to grow perennial that will paint your landscape or containers with color throughout the growing season. This viola’s petite, richly colored violet petals fade to a lavender center with a small yellow eye. Black nectar guides aid in pollination and gathering of nectar. Violas are an important early nectar and pollen source for pollinators and are hosts to 30 fritillary butterflies. 

Consider adding these edible flowers to baked goods or fresh salads. ‘King Henry’ grows best in moist, well-draining soils in full sun to partial shade and bloom most prolifically in cooler weather. Hot summer months can deter flowering, however, cutting back or dead heading may trigger new blooms. Perennial in zones 6-10, otherwise grown as an annual.

Seed pods disperse using a method called ballistic dispersal, whereby the dried pods crack and apply pressure to eject seeds at very high speeds into the landscape.