Alternate name: Hooded Blue Violet, Florida Violet, Sand Violet, Meadow Violet

Family: Violaceae, Violet view all from this family

Description This smooth, low plant has flowers and leaves on separate stalks.
Flowers: 1/2-3/4" (1.3-2 cm) wide; blue to white, or white with purple veins; petals 5, the lower one longer and spurred, the 2 lateral ones bearded.
Leaves: to 5" (12.5 cm) wide; heart-shaped with scalloped margins.
Fruit: 3-valved capsule.
Height: 3-8" (7.5-20 cm).

Flower March-June.

Habitat Damp woods, moist meadows, roadsides.

Range Throughout eastern North America (except Alberta), west to North Dakota and Texas.

Discussion In addition to the normal flowers there are often flowers near the ground that fail to open, but their whitish fruit produces vast quantities of seeds. Violet leaves are high in vitamins A and C and can be used in salads or cooked as greens. The flowers can be made into candies and jellies. The Marsh Blue Violet (V. cucullata), a similar species of very wet habitats, has dark blue-centered flowers borne well above the leaves.