Wild Violet Flowers

Pale Violet

• The flowers of the pale violet (Viola striata) attract butterflies, according to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Pale violet develops in medium to moist soils with good drainage, growing in partial shade in damp woodlands and near streams and rivers. Pale violets can reach heights of 1 foot, with the flowers emerging from April through June. Also known as the striped violet, this species grows native to much of eastern areas of North America. The flowers have a creamy white appearance with purple streaks running through them. Like many violet species, the leaves have a heart shape; this particular wild violet makes a fine ground cover.

Canada Violet

• Able to grow in partial shade in the spring and heavier shade in summer, the Canada violet (Viola Canadensis) does well in a wildflower garden setting. This species of wild violet enjoys a huge geographic range, growing native from Alaska across most of Canada and in such regions as the eastern United States and parts of the West. The Canada violet's flower is white, and the petals have a yellowish tint at their bases. Canada violet will thrive in a rich soil that has a mixture of organic matter blended into it. Keep it in cool parts of your property where it will attract bumblebees and butterflies.

Common Blue Violet

• Use the common blue violet (Viola sororia) to cover the areas around and under shrubs or along walkways. The greens of this violet, like those of several violet species, contain large amounts of Vitamin A and C, making for a nutritious salad, according to the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers." Another wild violet with a large range across the eastern sections of North America, the common blue violet grows to 8 inches, with hairy leaves and a bluish flower. The plant blooms in April and then often repeats its blooming through the summer months into August. This violet produces many seeds, allowing it to grow in great numbers in a small area.

Bird's Foot Violet

• The shape of its foliage gives the bird's foot violet (Viola pedata) its name, since the divided leaves resemble the foot of a bird. Bird's foot violets grow native across the eastern part of the continent. Able to colonize rocky ground and hillsides, the bird's foot violet grows to 6 inches. The flowers bloom for much of the early spring into mid-May, developing on a leafless stalk over the leaves. They are a lilac shade of purple. Bird's foot violets are good choices for rock gardens and since the species grows in full sun, you can plant them along paths and on hillsides.