Violets Viola cucullata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Violets:
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la kuk-yoo-LAY-tuh
- Description
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Marsh blue violet is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to eastern North America, including North Carolina, where it is most abundant in the mountains. It grows on moist to wet soils in prairies, fields, streams and pond edges. The species epithet is Latin for “hooded” and refers to the basal lobes of the leaf that are folded inward toward the center of the leaf.
It grows in a variety of soils, in sun to partial or dabbled shade. It needs constant moisture and does not tolerate dry soils.
The leaves arise 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. Single, light blue to blue-violet flowers are borne well above the leaves. It can be distinguished from other varieties of eastern rhizomatous blue violets by the length of its peduncle (flower stalk). The marsh blue violet’s peduncle is taller than any of the leaves on the plant, but other varieties have peduncles the same length or shorter than the leaves. The marsh blue violet’s flowers are also distinctive. The two lower, outer petals have hairs that are club tipped.
Use the marsh blue violet in rain, children’s, cottage, native or butterfly gardens. It can be a plant for the border, groundcover, or in containers.
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:
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- 'Striata Alba'
- 'White Czar'
White blooms with cream throats and purple veining on bottom petal
- 'Striata Alba'
- 'Striata Alba', 'White Czar'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Striata Alba'
- 'White Czar'
White blooms with cream throats and purple veining on bottom petal
- 'Striata Alba'
- 'Striata Alba', 'White Czar'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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Leaves:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
