Long-spurred Violet
Viola rostrata
A highly distinctive woodland violet featuring pale lilac-to-blue flowers with a dark purple eye and a remarkably long, slender spur extending behind the flower. Forms neat clumps in rich, shaded woodland soils, blooming alongside early spring wildflowers.
- Family
- Violaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.25–0.5 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–0.75 ft apart
- Light
- shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- April, May, June
- Bloom colors
- purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~29 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- border, groundcover, naturalizing
- Native states
- AL, CT, GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Related native plants
More Viola species
- Bird's-foot Violet (Viola pedata)
- Canadian White Violet (Viola canadensis)
- Stream Violet (Viola glabella)
- Cream Violet (Viola striata)
- Western Dog Violet (Viola adunca)
- Halberd-leaved Violet (Viola hastata)