Minnesota Wildflowers


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Viola pedata (Birdfoot Violet)

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

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Detailed Information

Flower: 5-petals irregular

[photo of flowers] 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: basal lobed

[photo of leaves] 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.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds
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  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!
  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

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

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Neville in Grey Cloud Dunes SNA
on: 2011-05-17 09:41:50

Masses of violet on dune crests and southwest facing slopes overlooking the Mississippi River

Posted by: becky in pope county- lake street near lake villard, villard, mn
on: 2011-06-02 23:15:32

They grow along lake street in villard at the side of the road near the farm my grandfather used to rent. I used to see them in the spring, and they were blooming last saturday (5/28/11) when i was back up there. The leaf style is very narrow/delicate- much more like the "wild" picture you show than the "garden grown" picture's leaves.

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