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. 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.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
7 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Violaceae |
| Genus | Viola |
| Common names | Violet |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early) |
| Height | 4" - 6" (10cm - 15cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| 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, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Midwest, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky |
| 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 |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
7 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Violaceae |
| Genus | Viola |
| Common names | Violet |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early) |
| Height | 4" - 6" (10cm - 15cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| 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, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Midwest, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Southeast, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky |
| 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 |
How many Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Viola cucullata (Marsh Blue Violet) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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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.
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