Marsh blue violet is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to eastern North America, including North Carolina, where it is most abundant in the mountains. It grows on moist to wet soils in prairies, fields, streams and pond edges. The species epithet is Latin for “hooded” and refers to the basal lobes of the leaf that are folded inward toward the center of the leaf. It grows in a variety of soils, in sun to partial or dabbled shade. It needs constant moisture and does not tolerate dry soils. The leaves arise from a horizontal rhizome. They are basal with palmate veins and can be erect to ascending. After flowering, the size of the leaves will expand. Single, light blue to blue-violet flowers are borne well above the leaves. It can be distinguished from other varieties of eastern rhizomatous blue violets by the length of its peduncle (flower stalk). The marsh blue violet’s peduncle is taller than any of the leaves on the plant, but other varieties have peduncles the same length or shorter than the leaves. The marsh blue violet’s flowers are also distinctive. The two lower, outer petals have hairs that are club tipped. Use the marsh blue violet in rain, children’s, cottage, native or butterfly gardens. It can be a plant for the border, groundcover, or in containers. Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to fungal leaf diseases. Watch for slugs and snails. More information on Viola .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Has a low rosette of basal leaves spanning about 6" across, from which one or more flowering stalks develop. The heart-shaped basal leaves are up to 3½" long and 3½" across and medium green.
Flower color
Green; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3/4 inch blue-violet flower with 5 petals and a spurred lower lip that is darker towards the center. They are long-stalked and grow higher than the leaves. The lowermost petal has a patch of white with radiating purple veins in the front, while in the back it has a short stout nectar spur.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The ovoid-oblongoid seed capsules are about ½" long and light green. At maturity, the capsule will split into three sections to release its seeds.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The leaves are rich in Vitamin A and C and can add variety to spring salads.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Violet has been used as a herbal medicine for cancers and minor ailments.