Bird-foot violet is a native herbaceous perennial that may grow 4 to 8 inches high. This species is restricted to undisturbed, high-quality habitats. It is a member of the violet family (Violaceae). In North Carolina, Viola pedata var. pedata can be naturally found in dry, rocky or sandy forests, woodlands, glades and road banks, whereas Viola pedata var. flabellata can be found in sandhills. The species epithet is Latin for “footed” and refers to the unusually lobed leaves. This plant needs well-drained soil and prefers sandy or gravelly soil with a somewhat acid pH in full sun but will tolerate part shade. It doesn't spread by stolons but may reseed in ideal conditions. This viola may be more difficult to grow than most. Bird-foot violet has basal leaves only that tend to have 3 lobes. The common name comes from the shape of the leaves, which resemble a bird's foot. Lavender-blue or bi-colored flowers with orange anthers appear from early to late spring and may recur in fall. It is often considered one of the prettiest violas. This plant supports Fritillary (Boloria bellona) butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attracts butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized miner bees: Andrena ( Gonandrena ) fragilis , Andrena ( Gonandrena ) integra and Andrena ( Gonandrena ) platyparia . Butterflies and moths use this plant as a larval host. Use this lovely native viola in groups, along paths, in rock gardens or on slopes. It is somewhat more difficult to grow than other viola species; however, when it is in a situation that provides optimum growing conditions, it may self-seed. Quick ID Hints: Deeply lobed leaves Large flower size to 1.5 inches No hairs at the throat of flowers Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is particularly susceptible to crown rot if drainage is not excellent. Crown rot may develop when the plant is in soil with poor drainage. 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.
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
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are almost round, are 3/4-2 inches long and deeply cut into 3-5 narrow lobes.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1-1.5 inch across five-petaled pale lavender to purple blooms. The upper 2 petals are smaller than the lower 3 with the lower petal having dark streaks. 5 stamens have bright orange anthers. Will bloom March-June and occasionally again in the fall. In North Carolina, flowers are available from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Seeds are ejected from the capsule and are covered with a sugary gel that attracts ants who help disperse the seeds. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from May to June.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Green to purple stems that curve at the tip.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA , IL, IN, KS , KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Host plant for fritillary butterflies. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia. Butterflies and moths use this plant as a larval host. Birds and small mammals use the seed fruits as a food source.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds; Specialized Bees