Violet Woodsorrel
Oxalis violacea
Also listed as Ionoxalis violacea, Sassia violacea
Also known as Purple Woodsorrel
Climate Match for your location
See how well Violet Woodsorrel grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A delicate low-growing perennial with clover-like foliage and small violet-purple flowers. Ideal for woodland gardens, rock gardens, or shaded borders.
Why grow it
Violet woodsorrel offers a fine-textured groundcover alternative to common ajuga or vinca for shaded woodland settings, with the added ornamental appeal of delicate violet flowers in spring and early summer. Unlike many shade groundcovers, it remains relatively compact and does not aggressively spread, making it suitable for defined planting areas where containment matters. The plant tolerates poor, acidic soils that challenge other low-growing perennials, and establishes readily in dappled or partial shade.
Watch out for
This species self-seeds readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers helps prevent volunteer seedlings in adjacent plantings. Performance declines in consistently wet soils or heavy clay without amendment, and the delicate foliage may look tattered by mid to late summer in hot climates or during extended drought, even with adequate moisture.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate low-growing perennial with clover-like foliage and small violet-purple flowers. Ideal for woodland gardens, rock gardens, or shaded borders.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Violet Woodsorrel grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Violet woodsorrel offers a fine-textured groundcover alternative to common ajuga or vinca for shaded woodland settings, with the added ornamental appeal of delicate violet flowers in spring and early summer. Unlike many shade groundcovers, it remains relatively compact and does not aggressively spread, making it suitable for defined planting areas where containment matters. The plant tolerates poor, acidic soils that challenge other low-growing perennials, and establishes readily in dappled or partial shade.
Watch out for
This species self-seeds readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers helps prevent volunteer seedlings in adjacent plantings. Performance declines in consistently wet soils or heavy clay without amendment, and the delicate foliage may look tattered by mid to late summer in hot climates or during extended drought, even with adequate moisture.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.