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Viola sororia

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:
Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Freckles'
  • 'Royal Robe'
    Blue-purple flowers with tiny white eye
  • 'Rubra'
'Freckles', 'Royal Robe', 'Rubra'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#small spaces#edible plant#violet#white flowers#easy to grow#purple flowers#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#native perennial#nectar plant#shade garden#colorful#spring flowers#winter interest#mass planting#high maintenance#seeds#dappled shade#showy fruits#small mammals#specialized bees#moist soil#bumblebee friendly#NC native#perennial flowers#violet flowers#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#small and large mammals#herbaceous perennial#native garden#attractive leaves#seed pods#groundcover#summer interest#border planting#self-seeding#cutting garden#spring interest#native groundcover#pollinator plant#edible garden#edible leaves#native wildflower#clumping#fantz#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#fruits spring#forb#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#lawn weed#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#small group plantings#wet soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#groundcovers that can be mowed#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#winter color purple#winter flowers#winter garden#partial shade tolerant#food source roots#shade flowers#bee friendly#black walnut toxicity tolerant#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#fritillary butterflies#perennial#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Freckles'
  • 'Royal Robe'
    Blue-purple flowers with tiny white eye
  • 'Rubra'
'Freckles', 'Royal Robe', 'Rubra'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#small spaces#edible plant#violet#white flowers#easy to grow#purple flowers#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#native perennial#nectar plant#shade garden#colorful#spring flowers#winter interest#mass planting#high maintenance#seeds#dappled shade#showy fruits#small mammals#specialized bees#moist soil#bumblebee friendly#NC native#perennial flowers#violet flowers#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#small and large mammals#herbaceous perennial#native garden#attractive leaves#seed pods#groundcover#summer interest#border planting#self-seeding#cutting garden#spring interest#native groundcover#pollinator plant#edible garden#edible leaves#native wildflower#clumping#fantz#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#fruits spring#forb#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#lawn weed#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#small group plantings#wet soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#groundcovers that can be mowed#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#winter color purple#winter flowers#winter garden#partial shade tolerant#food source roots#shade flowers#bee friendly#black walnut toxicity tolerant#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#fritillary butterflies#perennial#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#accent
  • 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
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    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