Description

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium)
Sun: Part Sun – Shade
Height: 4-12″
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Season: April – June

More Details:

Suggested Uses: Downy Violet grows best in shade and does well in woodland settings. It can act as a lovely ground cover. It grows well under evergreens.

Native Range: Native to the eastern half of North America. Native throughout the state of Minnesota.

Pollinators: Bees and butterflies. The purple veins in the flower are guides for the insects and lead to the nectar. Host plant for fritillary butterflies.

Flowers: The flowers have 5 petals, the lower 3 of which have purple veins. They are 3/4″ wide and grow on the same stem as the leaves – which is unusual for violets.

Leaves: The leaves are heart-shaped, hairy and scalloped or toothed. They are about 2″-5″ wide.

Food Uses: Young leaves can be mixed into salads or eaten as a cooked green. The flowers can be candied by dipping them into water, drying them, and sprinkling them with sugar. They are a good source of vitamins C and A.

More information: USDA plant profile