Viola, or Violets, are delicate favorites in spring. Viola is a genus containing 500 to 600 species, not to mention various hybrids, and cultivars including pansies and Johnny-jump-ups.  In horticulture the term pansy is normally used for the multi-colored, large-flowered cultivars raised annually or biennially from seed and used extensively in garden beds. The terms viola and violet are normally reserved for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the wild species. Violets are native to cold northern areas, but grow surprisingly well in the south, with deep purplish green leaves and lavender colored flowers.

In general, violets are an herbaceous, perennial flowering plant with leaves and flowers emerging on separate stems from rhizomes from March to June. it is a low growing (5 to 7 inches high), mounding, vigorously spreading plant that can make life difficult for lawn enthusiasts. The plant reproduces by seed in late summer and early fall when flowers without petals produce seeds which are thrown by mechanical ejection from three-parted seed capsules. The plant can also spread by root division from its rhizomes. The leaves and flowers grow on separate stems arising from the a basal crown on long petioles.