How to Grow Flying Saucer
Wikimedia Commons
Flying Saucer
Viola odorata var. 'Flying Saucer'
flowerFlying Saucer is a charming viola variety known for its distinctive flat, saucer-shaped flowers with white and purple bicolor markings. This compact, spreading ground cover produces delicate blooms spring through fall and offers both ornamental beauty and mild fragrance. It's a low-maintenance addition to gardens, borders, and containers.
When should you plant Flying Saucer in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Flying Saucer timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Flying Saucer
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Flying Saucer blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Flying Saucer dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-9, with best performance in cooler climates
Sign up free to see if Flying Saucer grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Flying Saucer timeline →Growth Stages
Germination
10-14 daysTiny seedlings emerge with first true leaves appearing
Keep soil moist, maintain cool temperatures (60-70°F), provide bright indirect light, thin crowded seedlings
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops multiple stems and foliage; low, spreading growth habit becomes established
Pinch back growing tips to encourage branching, maintain consistent moisture, apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
Budding & Flowering
6-12 weeks (can repeat with proper care)Flower buds form on stem tips; distinctive saucer-shaped blooms with white and purple coloring appear
Continue regular watering, deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming, reduce nitrogen fertilizer to promote flowers over foliage
Mature Blooming
4-8 weeks per flushPlant reaches full size with abundant flowers covering the mounding form
Maintain deadheading program, water consistently, watch for pests and disease, fertilize monthly with lower-nitrogen formula
Decline/Dormancy
3-4 months (winter)In late fall/winter, flowering slows and foliage may wither; plant enters dormancy
Reduce watering significantly, stop fertilizing, cut back dead foliage in spring, mulch in colder zones for winter protection
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil if severe; introduce ladybugs
-
Increase humidity, spray with water, apply neem oil or sulfur, ensure good air circulation
-
and
Handpick in early morning, use beer traps, apply diatomaceous earth, remove hiding debris
-
Improve air circulation, reduce humidity, apply sulfur or baking soda spray, remove affected foliage
-
Ensure well-draining soil, avoid overwatering, remove infected plants, improve drainage
Uses
Garden Border & Ground Cover
OrnamentalFlying Saucer's compact, mounding habit and abundant bicolor flowers make it ideal for edging flower beds, rock gardens, and as a low-growing ground cover. The saucer-shaped flowers provide unique visual interest and continuous color. [source]
Container Gardening
OrnamentalThe spreading growth habit makes Flying Saucer excellent for hanging baskets, window boxes, and pots where blooms cascade over the edges. Combine with complementary plants for mixed container displays. [source]
Edible Flowers
CulinaryViola flowers are edible and can garnish salads, desserts, and beverages for decorative purposes. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and are traditionally used in spring salads and candied flower applications. [source]
Pollinator Habitat
WildlifeFlying Saucer attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects with its abundant nectar and pollen. It serves as an early spring food source for emerging pollinators. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalViolas have a long history in herbalism, traditionally used in teas and tinctures. Viola flowers contain salicylic acid and have been used to support respiratory and skin health in folk medicine. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Flying Saucer is primarily an ornamental flower. Blooms can be cut for small arrangements when fully open; cut early morning for best vase life. Deadhead spent flowers regularly by pinching or cutting just below the flower head to encourage continuous blooming throughout the growing season. In warmer climates, may self-seed; allow some flowers to mature for natural propagation.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'Flying Saucer' refers to the distinctive flat, disc-shaped flowers with their bicolor purple and white markings that resemble the UFO vessels from 1950s sci-fi culture.
- 🌱 Violas are closely related to pansies but produce smaller, more delicate flowers and are generally hardier perennials that can bloom for multiple seasons.
- 🌱 Viola odorata ('sweet violet') has been cultivated for over 2,000 years and was a favorite flower of Napoleon Bonaparte; the variety 'Flying Saucer' is a modern cultivar within this storied lineage.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Flying Saucer planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Flying Saucer seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Flying Saucer timeline →