Summary
Common blue violet (Viola sororia) is a prolific spring bloomer with green heart-shaped leaves. It is a versatile groundcover, creating a 6-12″ carpet of emerald green foliage that adds texture and erosion control to any rain garden or naturalized planting. This clumping perennial thrives in average to moist/wet soils, growing larger leaves in shaded areas. It grows well in full sun, but will scorch and wilt if the soil is allowed to dry out completely. Common blue violet readily self seeds and is easily transplanted and divided. It should be noted that once established in an area, it is difficult to completely remove. If using as a groundcover in a formal area, choosing an area bound by concrete will limit spread.
Common blue violet hosts the violet miner bee (Andrena violae), a small pollen specialist that only collects pollen from violets (Viola spp.). Fritillary caterpillars feed on the foliage at night, retreating to the safety of leaf litter during the day. Ants aid in the dispersal of violet seeds. Each seed has an attached fleshy structure called an elaiosome, which is rich in lipids and proteins. Ants are attracted to the nutrient-rich elaiosome, which they take back to their nest to feed to their larvae. After the larvae consume the elaiosome, the ants take the seed to their waste disposal area, a fertile space ideal for the seeds to germinate. In addition to moving the seed away from the parent plant and increasing dispersal radius, seeds in the disposal areas are better protected from seed-eating animals and less likely to succumb to drought.
In favorable site conditions, this species is a suitable replacement for common nonnative groundcovers including common periwinkle (Vinca minor), English ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis). Zones 3-7.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial - Sun/Shade Conditions
full-to-partial-sun - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average-to-wet - Flowering Period
early-to-late-spring - Soil PH
alkaline - Flower Color
purple - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
green - Other Common Names
Missouri violet, Hooded blue violet, Hooded violet, Woolly blue violet, Woolly violet - Fruit/Seed Color
black
Additional Information
Illinois Wildflowers, Missouri Botanical Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center