Ontario Wildflowers website

Woolly Blue Violet
Viola sororia

Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) Other common names: Common Blue Violet, Hairy Blue Violet

French names: Violette parente

Family: Violet Family (Violaceae)

Group: Violets

Similar species:
  •   Common Blue Violet (Viola papilionacea)

  •   Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata)

  •   Northern Bog Violet (Viola nephrophylla)

  •   Sweet Blue Violet (Viola odorata)

Flowers: Spring;  Blue/Violet;  Irregular flowers

Leaves: Simple

Height: 10-30 cm (3-11 in)

Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas

Grows in Sun/Shade: Shade

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 30   

Native/Non-native: Native

Notes: Violets are a great addition to the woodland garden and in places where you desire a quick natural look. They are aggressive and invade lawns, so if you are after a pure grass lawn, stay away from this plant, But otherwise every woodland garden should have them. Violets are the host plants for Fritillary butterflies.

Photographs: 21 photographs available, of which 4 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) flower

Woolly Blue Violet flower.

Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) flower

Note the fuzzy stems which give this species its common name.

Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) plants

A nice clump of Woolly Blue Violet plants in bloom.

Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) flowers

Another clump, after an early May rain. And no I did not spray the plants :) .


Range map for Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)