If there’s remnant woodland nearby, you will find the common blue violet! This, one of our hardiest native flowers, will grow almost anywhere but thrives in part sun/shade and soil containing some loam. Excellent for naturalizing plantings, particularly in newer neighborhoods barren of all native species. Bright blue/purple flowers are a welcome sight in the spring, but plants bloom sporadically throughout the growing season. Foliage hosts several stunning species of fritillary butterfly!

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade, Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet Mesic, Mesic, Dry Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Clay Loam, Sandy Loam

Height: Up to 5”

Bloom Color: Violet

Bloom Time: Apr-Aug

Root Type: Rhisome

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers occasionally attract small bees, flies, and skippers. Hosts many species fritillary butterflies (notably the Variegated Fritillary in Indiana). Ants feed on seed casings. Seeds are occasionally eaten by mice and ground-feeding birds such as wild turkey, bobwhite, and mourning doves. Occasionally browsed by mammals, but generally overlooked.