Viola cucullata

Common Names

Marsh Blue Violet, Blue Marsh Violet, Northern Bog Violet, Hooded Blue Violet, Purple Violet, Thin Leaf Wood Violet, Marsh Violet, Violets

Summary

Marsh blue violet is a North American native perennial viola that is acaulescent, forming a low rosette from a thick rhizome and reaching 5–20 cm in height. Basal leaves are 4–8 on petioles up to 20 cm, cordate-based with crenate-serrate margins; flowers rise on long peduncles (7–25 cm) above the leaves and are blue-violet to violet with a white throat, the upper and lateral petals darker basally, and the lateral petals densely bearded; the lowest petal is white basally and the spur matches the petal color. Cleistogamous flowers occur on erect peduncles, and fruit capsules are 10–15 mm containing beige mottled to bronze seeds.

Prefers cool, moist to wet soils in habitats such as swamps, bogs, seeps, streamsides, and open wetlands, tolerating sun to partial shade; not drought-tolerant and forms colonies by creeping rhizomes and self-seeding. Useful as ground cover or in woodland garden settings, it attracts bees and butterflies; fritillary butterfly caterpillars feed on the foliage; edible uses include blossoms for candy, jam, jelly, syrup, and wine, with leaves high in vitamins A and C.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-8 inches

Spread

8-11.5 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to full shade; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist to wet, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Wet, poorly drained soils

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Blue-violet to violet

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division (via rhizome)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds