Dog Violet

Dog Violet (Viola conspersa) is common in fields and pastures. It can be used as ground cover.

The plants are only 2-4 cm tall in the spring, but they grow taller later in the summer. It has hairless leaves. The basal leaves are round or kidney-shaped, with rounded tips and fine rounded marginal teeth; the stem leaves are heart-shaped and 2-4 cm long, with spear-shaped stipules that are ragged or torn in the upper part.

Dog violet can be found in open mixed woods, borders, and fields in nature. Naturalize in moist soils in shaded areas of native plant gardens, shade gardens, woodland gardens, or wild/naturalized areas in your gardens. It also thrives in ponds, stream banks, and shady rock gardens.

Caring for Dog Violet

Plants may be grown from seed, but will not flower for 4-5 years. Quicker and better results are obtained from planting corms. Also, offsets from mature plants may be harvested and planted.

These native plants do not transplant well and should be left alone in the wild. Phlox divaricata, Chrysogonum virginianum, Iris cristata, Silene regia, and Spigelia marilandica are all good companion plants.