Viola sororia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viola floridana
- Viola latiuscula
- Viola palmata var. sororia
- Viola papilionacea
- Viola papilionacea var. priceana
- Viola priceana
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la so-ROR-ee-uh
- Description
-
Common blue violet is a rhizomatous clumping annual in the Violaceae (violet) family native to eastern and central North America. It grows 6 to 10 inches in height and width, and is found in woods, thickets, and along streambeds, especially in shadier areas.
The common blue violet prefers moist, rich soils and dappled sunlight. However, it will grow in many light conditions and tolerate wet soil, clay soil, and being planted near black walnut trees. It also freely self-seeds and may become invasive in fertile, moist locations. During hot summer months, the foliage tends to depreciate. During the summer months, it produces flower buds that never open (called cleistogamous flowers) but which develop into fruits with fertile seeds.
Nectar from the flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia. Birds and small mammals use the seed fruits as a food source.
Use the blue violet as a wildflower in lawns, rock gardens, edging, and borders. This plant can also be used as a groundcover along walls and path edges as mowing can limit its spread. It is best in open woodland gardens where it can be left to spread naturally. It is deer resistant, but much loved by rabbits..
Quick ID
-
Leaves are basal, heart-shaped, crenate, and subpeltate
-
Many solitary, 2 cm flowers on slender, peltate stalks
-
Acaulescent herbaceous plant with purple to white spring flowers
-
Lateral petals with basal tufts of hairs
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: May have some issues with slugs, snails, aphids, red spider mite, and violet gall midge. Powdery mildew and pansy leaf spot are occasional disease problems.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Travis Birdsell, County Extension Director and Extension Agent for Ashe County Extension
-
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mostly Native Vegetable, Herb and Pollinator Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Freckles'
- 'Royal Robe'
Blue-purple flowers with tiny white eye - 'Rubra'
- 'Freckles'
- 'Freckles', 'Royal Robe', 'Rubra'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Freckles'
- 'Royal Robe'
Blue-purple flowers with tiny white eye - 'Rubra'
- 'Freckles'
- 'Freckles', 'Royal Robe', 'Rubra'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viola
- Species:
- sororia
- Family:
- Violaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central North America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, 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. This plant is resistant to damage by deer. Butterflies and moths use this plant as a larval host. Birds and small mammals use the seed as a food source.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Young leaves can be used in salads or cooked as greens. Flowers are often added to salads or desserts.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a 3-chambered capsule. In North Carolina, fruits are available from April to June.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are borne on long peduncles from ground slightly overtopping leaves, zygomorphic, deep blue-violet to white, nodding. There are 5 unequal petals, the uppermost pair nearly erect, the lateral pair spreading. They are blue to white with medial basal erect pubescence, lowermost petal white basally, veins dark violet; spur to 0.1 inch; sepals 5. In North Carolina, flowers are purple to purplish-white and appear from February to May.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Yellowish-green leaves are basal, simple, cordate, acute, serrate to crenate, pubescent underneath, subpeltate, to 4 in across; stipules linear-lanceolate. Growing condition may affect the leaf color.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are rhizomatous.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
