Viola sororia

Most common violet of the many violets in the state

Viola sororia [Common blue violet]

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA

A stemless annual violet with violet-blue, bluish or white flowers, single flower on top of a naked pedicel. Flowers have conscious white throats and two side petals have beard-like tufts at their base, veins run out from the throat.  The species is variable in petal color and shape, some of the variability is geographic.

Moist woods, forest edges, meadows & fields.

Present throughout the state.

Wetland codes
EMP: FAC
NCNE: FAC



Flowers  March through June.

Leaves  basal only, simple, heart-shaped, rounded teeth around the edges; the upper side of the leaf is smooth and the underside is hairy.

Flower  single at the end of a stem, irregular with five broadly spreading petals; two side petals have tufts of thick hair at the base; color is blue-violet to blue, sometimes white.

Stem  up to six inches long, usually hairy, occasionally can be smooth.

Fruit  capsule purple-spotted, on prostate peduncles; seeds brown.

Two side petals have tufts of thick white hair at their base.

S-rank:  S5 (Secure)
G-rank:  G5 (Secure)