bird's foot violet
Viola pedata
USDA zones4 to 8
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size3 to 6 inches tall3 to 6 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Lilac/purple
- Foliage color
- Gray/silver, green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Bird's foot violet (Viola pedata) is a perennial for rock gardens, woodland gardens, and naturalized areas. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or chalky soil. Bees and butterflies visit the wide, flat flowers, and the deeply cut leaves look like a bird's foot. It sits low on the menu for deer. Give it excellent drainage to prevent crown rot.
Pairs well with Woodland phlox, Sundrops, and Blue grama.
Native range
Eastern North America.