Scientific Family
Violaceae
Other common names
Canada violet
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3 to 14 inches
Riparian
Yes
One of the few "stalked" violets; flowers rise from a stalk that originates from a leaf attachment, rather than the more typical basal flower stalk arrangement of most violets. One of the few violets that has fragrance.
Plants with stems arising in clusters from vertical rootstocks or creeping rhizomes; herbage hairy to very hairy; basal leaves ovate to somewhat heart-shaped; petals white, lower 3 with a yellow throat, lateral petals have a tuft of hairs at their base.
Habitat
Wet areas of sandy, rich, or rocky soils, along streams or creeks and shaded slopes in coniferous or aspen forests,
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
5400
High elevation
11500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers bilaterally symmetric with 2 upper petals, 2 lateral petals, and a broader lower petal, 3/4 to 1 inch wide, often tinged pink with age, sit on a slender purplish flower stalk above the leaves.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are heart-shaped, 1 to 3 inches wide, with pointed tips and bluntly toothed margins, on long purplish stalks.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Many-seeded, ellipsoid to globular capsule that opens lengthwise from top.
Fruit type
Capsule
Ovoid, large amounts of oily endosperm, and often an appendage.