Viola sororia
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Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: common blue violet
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Violaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Native Range: Eastern North America
Garden Location: Birch Mahaffey Carpenter Butterfly Pavilion, Martha Love Symington Missouri Native Shade Garden
Height: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time: April to August
Bloom Color: Blue, White
Bloom Description: White, blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Black Walnuts, Deer
Uses: Groundcover, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers humusy, moisture-retentive soils. Does not spread by runners, but freely self-seeds to the point of being weedy in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Woolly blue violet is a common Missouri native wildflower which occurs in woods, thickets and streambanks throughout the State. A stemless, rhizomatous, low-growing perennial (3-8" tall) which features downy, basal, wide-heart-shaped leaves and large blue-violet flowers (sometimes white with purple veining). Each flower rests atop its own leafless stalk. Blooms in early spring and sometimes intermittently into late summer.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage tends to depreciate in hot summers.

Garden Uses

Best massed and left to spread undisturbed in open woodland gardens, wildflower gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. Good small scale ground cover for areas along walkways or under shrubs.

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