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Viola cucullata is often confused with:
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Viola pedata Viola pedata
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Viola striata Viola striata
Viola cucullata has some common insect problems:
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage

Blue Marsh Violet Viola cucullata

Previously known as:

  • Viola obliqua
Phonetic Spelling
vy-OH-la kuk-yoo-LAY-tuh
Description

Marsh Blue Violet is a native wildflower that prefers moist to wet soils in prairies, fields, streams and pond edges. Its common name comes from its wet native habitat.  It grows in a variety of soils and in sun to dabbled shade. Single, light blue to blue-violet flowers are borne well above the leaves.  Classified a stemless variety, it can be distinguished from other varieties of  eastern stemless blue violas by the length of its peduncle (flower stalk).  Where Marsh Blue Violets peduncle is taller than any of the leaves on the plant, other varieties have peduncle the same length or shorter than any of its leaves.  Its flowers are also distinctive.  The two lower, outer petals have hairs that are club tipped.

The leaves form from a horizontal rhizome.  They are basal with palmate veins and can be erect to ascending. After flowering, the size of the leaves will expand.  

In North Carolina, it is common to find this specimen in the Mountains, uncommon in the Piedmont and rare in the Coastal regions.

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to fungal leaf diseases. Watch for slugs and snails. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Striata Alba'
  • 'White Czar'
    White blooms with cream throats and purple veining on bottom petal
'Striata Alba', 'White Czar'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#nectar plant#blue flowers#specialized bees#herbaceous#NC native#violet flowers#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#shade flowers#bee friendly#fritillary butterflies#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Striata Alba'
  • 'White Czar'
    White blooms with cream throats and purple veining on bottom petal
'Striata Alba', 'White Czar'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#nectar plant#blue flowers#specialized bees#herbaceous#NC native#violet flowers#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#shade flowers#bee friendly#fritillary butterflies#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viola
    Species:
    cucullata
    Family:
    Violaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Violet has been used as a herbal medicine for cancers and minor ailments.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Edibility:
    The leaves are rich in Vitamin A and C and can add variety to spring salads.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The ovoid-oblongoid seed capsules are about ½" long and light green. At maturity, the capsule will split into three sections to release its seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    3/4 inch blue-violet flower with 5 petals and a spurred lower lip that is darker towards the center. They are long-stalked and grow higher than the leaves. The lowermost petal has a patch of white with radiating purple veins in the front, while in the back it has a short stout nectar spur.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Has a low rosette of basal leaves spanning about 6" across, from which one or more flowering stalks develop. The heart-shaped basal leaves are up to 3½" long and 3½" across and medium green.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pond
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees