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Common Blue Violet

Viola sororia

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Shade
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Medium-Dry
Bloom time
Apr–Jun
Bloom color
Purple
Notes
Rhizomatous

About Common Blue Violet

Common Blue Violet is a beloved and incredibly versatile native wildflower that brings effortless beauty to any landscape. This resilient perennial, typically 4 to 8 inches tall, is recognized by its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and iconic purple-blue flowers that bloom from April through June. Beyond its charm, it is an ecological powerhouse, serving as the primary host plant for Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies and providing vital early forage for native bees. Native to most of eastern North America, it adapts to a wide range of habitats, from moist woodlands to open meadows. It thrives in full sun to deep shade and is tolerant of various soil types, though it prefers moist, well-drained conditions. Spreading via rhizomes and self-seeding, it makes an excellent, low-maintenance groundcover for shaded areas or naturalized yards. For a wildlife-friendly garden, the Common Blue Violet is an indispensable and hardy choice.

Native range

Native to 38 states:

AlabamaArkansasConnecticutD.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWisconsinWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Viola sororia

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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