Summary
Large striking flowers and distinctive finely divided foliage, resembling a bird’s foot, make this violet a delightful plant for the rocky, well drained garden. This 4-8” tall clumping perennial has showy 1-1½”, five-petaled flowers varying in color from white to pale blue and dark purple, sometimes bicolored with vivid orange stamens. Birdfoot violet will tolerate filtered shade but thrives in a sunny dry site with acidic soils. Sharp drainage is key to keeping this plant alive in the garden. It is a larval and nectar source for the regal fritillary butterfly. Birdfoot violet is a great plant for the rock garden as a companion for Aquilegia canadensis, Phlox nivalis, Bigelowia nuttallii, and Silene virginica.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade, full-sun - Foliage Character
evergreen, semi-evergreen - Soil Moisture
dry - Flowering Period
early-spring, mid-spring - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
blue, lavender, purple, white - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
green - Fruit/Seed Color
brown, tan
Additional Information
Illinois Wildflowers, USDA Plants Database, U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers