Violets Viola walteri
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Violets:
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-OH-la WAL-ter-ee
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Silver Gem'
Silvery heart-shaped foliage with blue-lavender flowers.
- 'Silver Gem'
- 'Silver Gem'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Silver Gem'
Silvery heart-shaped foliage with blue-lavender flowers.
- 'Silver Gem'
- 'Silver Gem'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viola
- Species:
- walteri
- Family:
- Violaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A. west to OH and TX
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , KY , LA , MS , NC , OH , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1" flowers, the lateral petals are bearded.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Reniform
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Light green, mottled (spots or smears of color), simple leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
