Image of Viola sororia
Source: OWSL
image of Flowering plant
Viola sororia
Woolly Blue Violet
Violette parente

Obsolete Names

blue prairie violet
dooryard violet
downy blue violet
hooded blue violet
violette commune
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Purple Bloom period: Apr - Jun
Max Height: 0.5 feet
Max Width: 0.7 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Full shade Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
row garden Suitable for Right of Way gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
ground cover Suitable for ground cover
woodland garden Suitable for woodland gardens
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
foot traffic tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
bee host Bee host
Tolerates:
foot traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Viola sororia
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Boreal Plains
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Viola sororia

  • Argynnis cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary)
  • Boloria bellona (Meadow fritillary)
  • Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)
  • Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite fritillary)
  • Trichordestra legitima (Striped Garden Caterpillar)
  • Xestia smithii (Smith's Dart)

Specialized Bees Supported by Viola sororia

  • Andrena integra
  • Andrena platyparia
  • Andrena violae
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Plantago (Non-Native Plantain)
  • Lamium (Dead nettle)
  • Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
  • Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny)
  • Iridaceae) (Crocus)
  • Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill)
  • Salvia (Non-Native Sage)
  • Hyacinthus (Non-Native Hyacynth)
  • Petunia (Non-Native Petunias)
  • Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-me-not)
  • Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow by February
  • Stratification duration: 60 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Best planted outdoors in fall.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: June
  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown and slightly open
  • Harvesting mean: Open the pod, remove seeds
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • Remove non seed material
  • Harvesting video: Watch here

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.