Canada Violet
Viola canadensis
Also listed as Lophion canadense, Viola discurrens
Also known as Tall White Violet, Canadian White Violet, Canada White Violet
Climate Match for your location
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Canada Violet is a delicate, low-growing wildflower with small white and purple flowers that bloom in spring. It thrives in woodland settings and makes an excellent groundcover in shaded gardens.
Why grow it
Canada Violet offers a native alternative to non-native groundcovers in woodland gardens, with the advantage of supporting local pollinator and lepidopteran populations. Its modest stature and spring bloom make it suitable for understory planting without competing aggressively with established tree and shrub canopies. Compared to some cultivated groundcovers, it requires minimal soil amendment and no fertilizer once established in appropriate shade and moisture conditions.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish and may not fill space quickly in the first growing season, so patience is needed before expecting full groundcover density. In very dry summers, supplemental watering may be necessary until plants develop deeper root systems, particularly in recently planted areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Violaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Canada Violet is a delicate, low-growing wildflower with small white and purple flowers that bloom in spring. It thrives in woodland settings and makes an excellent groundcover in shaded gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Canada Violet grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Canada Violet offers a native alternative to non-native groundcovers in woodland gardens, with the advantage of supporting local pollinator and lepidopteran populations. Its modest stature and spring bloom make it suitable for understory planting without competing aggressively with established tree and shrub canopies. Compared to some cultivated groundcovers, it requires minimal soil amendment and no fertilizer once established in appropriate shade and moisture conditions.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish and may not fill space quickly in the first growing season, so patience is needed before expecting full groundcover density. In very dry summers, supplemental watering may be necessary until plants develop deeper root systems, particularly in recently planted areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Violaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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