Early Blue Violet (Viola adunca) is a hardy perennial herb.
- The plant is compact. It grows from rhizomes and has no stems early in the season.
- Basal ovate green leaves have fine edges.
- Leafy aerial stems form and terminal flowers develop in spring.
- The violets are blue-violet, with 5 veined petals.
- The two side petals are white-bearded at the “throat.
- The upper two petals may have a hooked spur.
- Capsules form after flowering.
- There are several varieties of Viola adunca
- It may be called hookedspur violet, sand violet, or western dog violet.
- We spot early blue violet in meadows, open forests, and in the grasslands over a range of elevations.
- The nectar is used by bees and other insects and the seeds are food by some birds and rodents.
- Some butterflies use violets as host plants.
- Violets can be propagated by root division, cuttings, or by seed.
- There are several violets which can be seen in our area, but the color of the flowers is quite distinctive and easy to identify.
