Native Violas and Violets of Louisiana

Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata) by naturegirl7

Description

Birdfoot Violets stand about 3 to 5 inches tall. they have yellow centers with Bicolor petals in shades of purple and lavender-blue. The color varies according to the soil conditions such as fertility, acidity and location. Sometimes white flowers with dark veins occur.

The deeply veined foliage looks like an outstretched bird foot.

Blooms appear from March through April in Louisiana. When Birdfoot violets are cultivated, they will sometimes bloom again in early summer and will not go dormant during late summer.

Birdfoot Violet is widely distributed in the wild pine land soils of Louisiana and also in Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas.


Cultivation Requirements

These violets prefer acid to slightly acid, sandy soils. They thrive in average (not too rich) garden soil. Since, in the wild, the roots are protected by native grasses, cultivated bird foot violets should be mulched in winter to prevent winter-kill.

Birdfoot Violets need full sun so they are great for rock gardens. Plant them in early spring or fall. Local nursery grown stock is superior to collected specimens. It's best not to collect from the wild, unless the violets are on your own property or the stand is in danger of being destroyed by construction.

Bird's-Foot Violet by kmkelly01

Propagation

The root system of Birdfoot Violets is quite different from the creeping, knotty root stock of most other violets. Birdfoot violets have a bulb-like root which looks like a miniature celeriac root with course feeder roots.

The method of seed production is also different. Unlike most other violets which produce self-fertile, hidden seed pods, Birdfoot violets produce seeds from the actual flowers. So if you want Birdfoot Violets to spread, you must not pick the flowers.


Landscaping

Birdfoot Violets look best and do well when allowed to form clusters in sunny well drained areas. Many native stands have been killed out by reforestation, so it is important to keep the area where birdfoot violets are growing open and free of shade.

Blue Violets Postcard by naturegirl7

Description

There are many types of common native violets, depending on the part of the country you live in. In Louisiana (especially in the southern part of the state), one of the most common of the blue or purple native violets is the Langlois Violet.

To this day, I do not understand why anyone would not welcome these lovely, hardy edible plants into their yards. I would much rather have a lawn of violets and other useful ground cover plants than one of boring, useless, high maintenance exotic turf grass.

Langlois Violets have pale blue flowers in early spring and deep green, heart shaped (ovate-triangular) leaves.


Cultivation Requirements

Common Violets of any kind are easy to grow and will self seed readily from hidden, self-fertile seed pods. Langlois Violets are native to hardwood forests so they are one of the plants that will grow well in shade to part sun.


Propagation

The self seeding pods will produce many plants and the knotty root stock can be divided in spring, fall or right after blooming.

Space 10 inches or more apart. Set crowns 1/2 to 1 inch deep. They can be used as a groundcover or in large clumps in shady to partly sunny areas.

Langlois Violet by naturegirl7

White Bog Violets by naturegirl7

Description

White Bog Violet is a violet of the wetlands in both pine and hardwood areas in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coastal states. White blooms occur from late winter through spring. Leaves are triangular, but more blade like than blue violets and grow from white cord-like stolons.

They begin blooming in early February and bloom through April.


Cultivation Requirements

White Bog Violets need moisture and sun to part sun. They are wonderful to naturalize as a groundcover in wet areas where other plants and turf grass won't grow. Pollinators are attracted to the lovely white flowers. Mowing on a high setting will keep the wild grasses under control while allowing the violets to thrive.

Propagate by self-seeding or by root division as with other violets.