Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet)

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. Birds occasionally eat the seeds, 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 sun and shade if 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 gardens, woodland gardens, or as a ground cover.
• Watch for slugs, snails, violet gall midge, powdery mildew, and pansy leaf spot. Deer resistant.
• 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.