Alphabetical Plant Listing

Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

Marsh Blue Violet, Blue Marsh Violet, Thin Leaf Wood Violet, Viola cucullata var. microtitis, Viola obliqua


Native to North America, Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet) is a stemless, low-growing perennial forming a neat basal rosette of kidney-shaped, toothed, mid-green leaves, 2 in. long (5 cm). Attractive, flat-faced, blue-violet flowers, about 1 in. across (2.5 cm), with conspicuous white throats, appear from mid-spring to early summer. Their lateral petals display small club-shaped beards. Their lower spurred petal is beardless but adorned with radiating purple veins. The flowers are long-stalked and rise above the foliage. Their floral nectar attracts bees and bumblebees. The caterpillars of several Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage primarily in open areas. The seeds are occasionally eaten by birds, including the Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, and Mourning Dove. This perennial wildflower prefers moist to wet soils in prairies, fields, streams, and pond edges. It is well-suited to woodland, banks, along ponds and streams, or wild gardens where it spreads by self-seeding and creeping rhizomes. The young leaves are rich in vitamins A and C and can be used in salads. 

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Growing up to 4-6 in. tall (10-15 cm), this Violet will spread by self-seeding and creeping rhizomes.
  • A full sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in average, moist to wet, well-drained soils. Marsh Blue Violet can thrive in both sun and shade as long as the site is moist.
  • This plant is very versatile and can be used on banks and slopes, underplanting shrubs and roses, cottage gardens, prairies and meadows, bog gardenswoodland gardens, or as a ground cover.
  • Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, violet gall midge, powdery mildew, and pansy leaf spot.
  • Propagate by seed.
  • Native to North America, from Minnesota south to Arkansas and Mississippi, east to all of New England, and south to Georgia. It is also known from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Labrador, and Newfoundland.

Not sure which Viola - Violets to pick?
Compare All Viola - Violets

Buy Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 7 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Viola - Violets
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 4" – 6" (10cm – 15cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Bog Gardens, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Guides with Viola - Violets


By Gerry Bishop, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 7 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Viola - Violets
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 4" – 6" (10cm – 15cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Bog Gardens, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Guides with Viola - Violets

Plant Calculator

How many Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.