Viola pedata (Birdfoot Violet)

Plant Info

Also known as:	Beardless Birdfoot Violet
Genus:	Viola
Family:	Violaceae (Violet)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; dry sandy or rocky soil; prairies, open woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	3 to 6 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A single, slightly irregular 5-petaled flower 1 to 1½ inches across at the end of a hairless, leafless stem that rises above the leaves. Petals are lavender to purple, the lower petal fading to white at the base with a few dark purple lines. A tight group of orange stamens projects from the center. The side petals are hairless (“beardless”).

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are basal, hairless, ¾ to 1½ inches long and wide on stems to 2 inches long, deeply lobed palmate-fashion into narrow segments, typically with 3 main lobes that are further divided. The outer basal leaves are typically smaller than the inner basal leaves. Stems are green or tinged purple.

Notes:

Birdfoot Violet is easily confused for Prairie Violet (Viola pedatifida). The easiest way to tell them apart is whether or not the flowers are bearded. Prairie Violet is bearded, and has smaller flowers. Most references note that sometimes Birdfoot Violet has dark purple upper petals and lighter lower petals, but I have not seen this in the wild.

More photos

• Birdfoot Violet plants
• garden grown Birdfoot Violets

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Center City, MN, May 2008. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken in Anoka County and a residential garden in Lino Lakes.

Comments

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