First appearing in Italy, in the 20th century, most types of parma violets have lavender flowers of varying sizes, which have an attractive fragrance.

It was first imported into Naples in the latter part of the 19th century, when Filippo Savorgnan di Brazzà [it][2][3] took the plant to Udine.

There are no records of his work, though it is widely believed that he deliberately crossbred to produce at least two varieties of parma.

[citation needed] Parma violets are widely believed to be sterile, and there is much store laid by their reproduction through cuttings.

The delicate purple flowers of the parma violet plant also give their name to a delicate, violet-scented sweet Parma Violets, manufactured by Swizzels Matlow.