Prostrate Blue Violet Viola walteri

Walter's Violet is a native wildflower of the Southeastern and Appalachian North America.  It boasts solitary, showy purple flowers that grows in moist deciduous woodland areas, forests and rocky ledges.  It will not be found in pine forests.  It prefers partial to full shade well-drained acidic to slightly alkaline sandy loam soils.  Propagate by seed, root division, stem and root cuttings.  Typically, does well when transplanted.

It can be distinguished from other violas by its trailing stems, rounded leaves, blue flowers and fimbriated (fringed) stipules.  

Its basal leaves are partially evergreen, new growth will commence in the early spring.   Its form is caulescent, meaning leafy-stemmed.  At times, it may appear as acaulescent or stemless.  

It will colonize when grown in the proper conditions which includes adequate moisture.  It spreads by both its above-ground runners and by rhizomes.  In dry locations, it will remain spaced, not colonizing.  

One of the earliest native violas to bloom.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Typically will not flourish in pine forests.