Viola primulifolia L.

Primrose Leaf Violet

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Primrose Leaf Violet is a native perennial in the Violet family (Violaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Primrose Leaf Violet grows in bogs and seeps, in low pine forest, on wet roadsides, and in ditches. Plants are acaulescent (lacking an upright leafy stem). The leaves are lance-ovate in outline with (usually) winged petioles. The flowers are produced on stalks longer than the leaves. The flowers have five white petals. The lower three petals have purple veins towards their bases. The fruit is a capsule with many round reddish-brown seed. Primrose Leaf Violet produces long thin stolons that end in new plants. Often large colonies form in this manner. Primrose Leaf Violet is similar to Lance Leaf Violet (Viola lanceolata Linnaeus). That species has linear or narrowly lanceolate leaves. Primrose Leaf Violet has been described as a natural stable hybrid between Lance Leaf Violet (Viola lanceolata Linnaeus) and Small White Violet (Viola macloskeyi F.E.Llyod). Some field guides and web sites still use the hybrid designation for this species (Viola X primulifolia Linnaeus). Primrose Leaf Violet is available from some wildflower nurseries as either plants or seed. It requires a sandy soil, full sun, and plenty of moisture. It makes an excellent addition to a bog garden.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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