Long before hybridizers got involved, Viola tricolor was brightening European meadows and rocky outcrops with its three-colored flowers of violet, white, and gold. The species epithet says exactly what it is: three-colored, and that tricolor pattern remains one of the most readable faces in the garden. Growing just 3 to 10 inches tall, it seeds itself through cracks, along banks, and into whatever bare soil it can find, flowering from spring through summer before the heat finishes it off.

Grow it in full sun in moderately fertile, well-drained soil and water it regularly without overdoing it. Each flower capsule can hold up to 50 seeds, so a planting rarely needs to be repeated. The flowers are edible in small amounts and make genuine garnishes rather than gimmicks. Invite it into pollinator beds, cottage borders, or any garden corner that benefits from low, cheerful color during the cool months.