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Native Plant Database

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Viola adunca (Hooked-spur violet)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Viola adunca Sm.

Hooked-spur violet, Western Blue Violet, Western Dog Violet

Violaceae (Violet Family)

USDA Symbol: viad

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A small plant with pansy-like bluish-violet flowers that hang at tips of slender stalks.

Violets are very popular wildflowers and garden plants, romantically described as shrinking because of the way the petals fold in. Species are often difficult to identify as they may hybridize, producing intermediate forms. These hybrids, in turn, may reproduce by means of inconspicuous flowers at the base of the plant, often even underground, producing seeds without opening.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , IA , ID , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NM , NV , NY , OR , SD , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , SK
Native Distribution: Canada; south to southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, the northern Great Plains.
Native Habitat: Meadows, open woods, and open slopes from sea level to timberline.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil Description: Sandy

Benefit

Use Food: Violet leaves contain more vitamin A than spinach, and one-half cup of violet leaves has as much vitamin C as four oranges. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Viola adunca is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Zerene Fritillary
(Speyeria zerene)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Great Basin Fritillary
(Speyeria egleis)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Hydaspe Fritillary
(Speyeria hydaspe)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Mormon Fritillary
(Speyeria mormonia)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Viola adunca in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Viola adunca in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Viola adunca

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-07-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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