Viola pedatifida (Prairie Violet)

Plant Info

Also known as:	Bearded Birdfoot Violet
Genus:	Viola
Family:	Violaceae (Violet)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; dry prairies, open woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	3 to 6 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A single, slightly irregular 5-petaled flower about ¾-inch across on a hairless, leafless stem. Petals are purple to blue-violet; the 3 lower petals are white near the base, the 2 side petals have a tuft of white hairs (“beard”) and the middle has darker purple lines. One to several flower stems may arise from one plant.

Leaves:

Leaves are basal, 1 to 3 inches long and wide on stems to 6 inches long, deeply lobed palmate-fashion into narrow segments, the lobes often further divided. They may be hairy or hairless.

The leaves often do not fully develop until after the flowering period is done and may be more shallowly lobed or just a tuft close to the ground when the flowers bloom.

Notes:

Prairie Violet is easily confused for Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata). The easiest way to tell them apart is whether or not the flowers are bearded. Birdfoot Violet is beardless and has larger flowers, up to 1½ inches across. The Bell Herbarium lists this species under the synonym Viola palmata var. pedatifida.

More photos

• Prairie Violet plants
• Prairie Violet plant
• garden grown Prairie Violet

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN and Wild River State Park, May 2008 and 2009. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken in Anoka County and a residential garden in Lino Lakes.

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