Viola walteri House

Walter's Violet; Prostrate Blue Violet

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Walter's Violet is a native herbaceous perennial in the Violet family (Wiolaceae). It is native to most of Alabama. Walter's Violet occurs in hardwood forests, in rocky woods, and on roadside banks. It is an herbaceous perennial from a fleshy rhizome or erect caudex. It forms clones from green or reddish stolons that root at the nodes. Leaves are basal and cauline. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to reniform in outline, deeply cordate, with crenulate or serrate margins. The surface of the blade is glabrous or pubescent. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green and the lower surface is reddish-purple. The leaf is subtended by laciniate stipules. Flowers are solitary from the axils of the leaves. Each flower has 5 pale blue petals. The lower 3 petals often have white towards the base and dark purple veins. The fruit is a capsule. Walter's Violet is often cultivated in woodland gardens. It can be purchased from many wildflower nurseries. Old plants can be divided or new plants can be grown from seed. It makes and excellent low ground cover to shady areas.—A. Diamond.

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Native

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