Viola rotundifolia

Common Names

Roundleaf Yellow Violet, Round-Leaved Violet, Early Yellow Violet, Roundleaf Violet, Eastern Round-Leaved Violet

Summary

Round-leaved yellow violet (Viola rotundifolia) is a small, acaulescent perennial native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States, growing from a thick rhizome with stolons and forming basal leaves that lie close to the ground. It bears bright yellow flowers with brown-veined lower petals and bearded lateral petals on leafless stalks, with a yellow spur; the plant flowers from March to May in rich montane forests and other mesic woodlands at elevations of 200–2000 meters. In cultivation, it prefers full shade to partial shade with evenly moist, well-drained soils and tolerates deer; plant 1–2 inches deep and 12–18 inches apart in early spring or fall. It self-seeds freely and can be used in mass plantings in shaded woodland gardens, wildflower/native plant gardens, or naturalized areas, with low maintenance; propagation can be by seeds sown in fall after collection or by division in spring or fall.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 inches

Spread

0.5-8 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade to full shade

Soil Type

Moist, humusy, well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 6.0–7.0).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, moist but not waterlogged.

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Gray-green, Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Stolons, Rhizomes

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies