Labrador Violet

Labrador Violet (Viola labradorica) is a very low-growing perennial (1-3 inches high) which is typically utilized both for its small, attractive, heart-shaped, purple-tinged foliage (to 1 inch across) and its lavender-blue spring flowers. Flowers appear atop leafy stems in May. The blooming period occurs during the middle of spring for about 1 month. Fertilized flowers produce an ovoid-oblongoid seed capsule about 1/3" long. This capsule splits open into 3 parts to fling the seeds from the mother plant. This wildflower also produces inconspicuous cleistogamous flowers during the summer, which are self-fertile; their seed capsules are similar to the earlier fertilized flowers. The small seeds are globoid in shape and light brown at maturity. The root system consists of a vertical crown with fibrous roots and horizontal rhizomes; clonal offsets are produced occasionally from the rhizomes.

Habitats include moist rich woodlands, swampy woodlands, and moist meadows in wooded areas. Sometimes this violet is found in slightly sandy habitats that are similar to the preceding ones. Dominant canopy trees in these habitats are typically ash, maple, or elm. Dog Violet is found in higher quality habitats where the original ground flora is still intact.

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Spreads, sometimes aggressively, by creeping stems and by self-seeding.