Viola Species, Larkspur Violet, Purple Prairie Violet, Birdfoot Violet, Crow-foot Violet

This is a clump-forming, short-lived perennial whose deeply cut foliage looks much like bird's-foot violet (V. pedata), but with smaller ...Read Moreflowers (to 3/4"). It is native to midwestern prairies and quality undisturbed grasslands, dry to mesic, and is neither noxious nor invasive.

As with many other violets, inconspicuous self-fertilizing (cleistogamous) flowers mature in summer into spring-loaded seedpods, which can eject the seeds up to 8 feet away. Under optimal conditions, this species may self-sow. However, it is not aggressive like most of our native stemless violets.

Prairie Violet occasionally hybridizes with the aggressive Common Blue Violet (V. papilionacea) and Le Conte's Violet (V. affinis) in nature. The resulting hybrids may then back-cross with the parent species resulting in a hybrid that is closer to one parent species than another. This may account for some variability in leaf shape.

There is either a great deal of variability with this species in leaf form and hue of bloom, or it may hybridize with other violas. I've ...Read Morenoticed soon with only a few lobes. I also think this plant is best in bright shade. I suspect that taller neighbors give it some shade in its native grasslands. To be safe, grow it in a pot and set out offsprings and divisions in various sites to find what suits it best in your garden. Unfortunately, it sometimes produces flowers completely hidden by foliage. I wonder if selective breeding might eventually yield more standard and desirable traits. Also, watch out for seedlings that can pop up quite far from the parent. That being said, it is in no way rambunctious, unlike the common lawn violet.

Doesn't do well when having competition from other plants and also seem to strongly dislike part sun.

One of a few larval host plants for fritillaries, including the regal fritillary, which have seen worrisome population declines throughou...Read Moret its range. V. pedatifida and V. pedata are the two most important larval host species in the upper midwest. Fritillaries do not lay their eggs on the host plant, and the first instar of the larva will overwinter in leaf litter, needing to find a host viola quickly in the spring. So it is important to have some undisturbed plantings with some leaf litter and other vegetative debris near your native violets (lawns don't work because of the mowing and raking). Also, make sure you have some adult nectar sources (esp. echinaceas and [if not a listed noxious weed where you live- IA & AR] native thistles).

Interesting, non-violet-like leaves. Will sometimes re-bloom in late summer.

Not as aggressive as the common violet, and unlike the common violet, V. pedatifida doesn't do all that well in shade. I don't think that the plant file should include the note on possibly a noxious or invasive plant, as it is a U.S. native, and I'm not aware of it being listed on any state's noxious weed list. Again, it is not as aggressive as common violet (also a native).

Seeds are ejected forcefully from the seed pods, but you can put a small net (a bit of pantyhose works well) over the seed head as the pods ripen. Esp. useful if you aren't sure when the pods are ripe. Fall direct sowing or a month or two of cold, moist stratification if germinating indoors in spring. Seeds are small, and should be surface sown with only a light sprinkling of soil at most covering them.