Viola pedata L.

Bird Foot Violet

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Bird’s Foot Violet is a native herbaceous perennial in the Violet family (Violaceae). It can be found throughout the state, but is most common in the northern half of Alabama. Bird’s Foot Violet grows in dry pine forests, in dry hardwood forests, in rocky woods, and on roadside banks. It is a perennial with a short, thick rhizome. Plants are acaulescent, and the leaves form a rosette. The leaves are petiolate, deeply divided into 3-10 narrow spatulate or lanceolate lobes, and sparsely pubescent or glabrous. The leaves are evergreen and dark green in color. Flowers are solitary on peduncles that are 2-5 inches in length. Bird’s Foot Violet is the largest flowered of our native Violet species. It is sometimes called “Wild Pansy”. Typical flower color is blue, but a few plants in any population may be bi-colored with the two upper petals being dark purple. Rarely you may also find a white or pink flowered plant. The fruit is a capsule. This species is difficult to cultivate in typical gardens, and plants should not be removed from the wild. Several native plant nurseries carry this species if you have suitable habitat and want to give growing it a try. Bird’s Foot Violet thrives in full sun or light shade on dry, poor soils. It can be grown on steep banks or in rock gardens.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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