Common Blue Violet

(Viola sororia)

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia Willd.)

Identification: An extremely variable species. Leaves basal and flowers on separate stalks. Flowers violet or white with a violet center. Lower and lateral petals heavily marked with black. Lateral petals bearded (erect hairs) and lower petal occasionally also bearded. Leaves heart-shaped. Stem and leaves usually smooth, but downy in some varieties.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Common Blue Violet is found in a wide variety of habitats including forest, lawns, meadows, fields, and roadsides.

Flowering period: March to June.

Similar Species: Common Blue Violet can be very difficult to separate from Sand Violet. Sand Violet has a more triangular leaf with a distinctly pointed apex. The lower three petals of Sand Violet are always bearded, but the lower petal is only rarely bearded in Sand Violet.

Comments:

Common Blue Violet is the most widespread, common, and habitat non-specific of the eastern violets. The species is considered a lawn weed by some, but is beautiful in the spring. We are happy to have it flourishing in our lawn.

In the older literature this common, widespread species is referred to by the scientific name Viola papilionacea. Its current scientific name was previously listed as a separate species, Woolly Blue Violet or Downy Blue Violet, now considered to be a hairy variety of the Common Blue Violet. Broad-leaved Wood Violet (Viola latiuscula) and Northern Blue Violet (Viola septentrionalis), previously considered to be separate species, are now also considered to be synonyms of the Common Blue Violet.

Clesitogamous Flower