Photographs: Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork

Sweet Violet Viola odorata Sailchuach chumhra Family: Violaceae Flowering March - May. Perennial. Introduced / ?Native. Very fragrant deep violet or white flowers with blunt sepals. Downy seed capsules. Basal leaves are +/- circular and slightly downy. Spreads by seed and rooting runners. Two white varieties occur: Viola odorata var. dumetorum (below) with a dark spur and hairs in throat of flower and var. imberbis with a paler spur and no hairs in the throat. Possibly native in some areas but more often a relic of cultivation or garden escape in shady woods, hedges and naturalised in churchyards.

Sweet Violet, Viola odorata, Sailchuach chumhra