Western Dog Violet
Viola adunca
Western dog violet is a low blue-violet violet of meadows and open woods, and a key larval host for several fritillary butterflies across the West. Young leaves and flower buds are edible raw or cooked, thickening soups much like okra; the dried leaves make a tea.
- Family
- Violaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0–0.5 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–1 ft apart
- Light
- shade
- Soil moisture
- dry, moist
- Soil pH
- neutral, acidic
- Bloom
- April, May, June, July, August
- Bloom colors
- blue, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~29 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- groundcover, container, erosion control, naturalizing
- Native states
- AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, ID, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OR, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY
Related native plants
More Viola species
- Bird's-foot Violet (Viola pedata)
- Canadian White Violet (Viola canadensis)
- Stream Violet (Viola glabella)
- Cream Violet (Viola striata)
- Long-spurred Violet (Viola rostrata)
- Halberd-leaved Violet (Viola hastata)