Photo: no rights reservedCC0 1.0via iNaturalist
Common Dog-violet Plant Care
Viola riviniana Rchb.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
This plant is distinguished by its heart-shaped leaves and delicate purple flowers. Originating from Europe and Western Asia, Viola riviniana is highly sought after by plant collectors for its charming appearance and ability to spread in shady garden areas.
Every 7–14 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Common Dog-violet?
Water Common Dog-violet every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 2 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Common Dog-violet Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Common Dog-violet?
Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) belongs to the Violaceae family within the Viola genus. Common Dog-violet is native to Eurasia and Africa. Common Dog-violet is also known as Dog Violet.
Common Dog-violet displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Common Dog-violet produces small, delicate flowers in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Common Dog-violet?
Viola riviniana requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Common Dog-violet Need?
Common Dog-violet thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Common Dog-violet Prefer?
Viola riviniana grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Common Dog-violet prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Common Dog-violet?
Well-draining, fertile soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Common Dog-violet to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Common Dog-violet?
Feed Common Dog-violet every 2 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 2 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Common Dog-violet?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Common Dog-violet?
Common Dog-violet can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to hooked violet plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Common Dog-violet Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Common Dog-violet, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Common Dog-violet?
Common Dog-violet is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Common Dog-violet Need?
Common Dog-violet grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Common Dog-violet is native to Eurasia and Africa.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 4a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Common Dog-violet is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Viola genus — compare its care with other Viola species on PlantoScan.
Viola is part of the Violaceae plant family — browse all Violaceae genera and species.
Common Dog-violet thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Viola Species
Other Viola species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Viola riviniana Rchb., family Violaceae (first published in Iconogr. Bot. Pl. Crit. 1: 81 (1823)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Common Dog-violet, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Public domain, CC0 1.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 4a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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