Early Dog Violet -viola riviniana– is a beautiful and familiar wildflower that evokes memories of spring. It`s our earliest violet to flower often appearing as early as late February several weeks ahead of Common Dog Violet. It’s preferred habitat is woodland glades and hedge banks but plants will also tolerate more sunny sites and can be grown in a variety of positions in gardens, so long as the soil is relatively moist. Plants are very important, for emerging Butterflies. Violets are low growing species with delightful heart-shaped purple blue flowers that appear from Mach to May. Early Dog Violet looks best growing with other spring wildflowers such as Primroses, Greater Stitchwort, and Cowslips. In gardens early dog violet can often be established in the gaps between paving slabs and will self seed readily.