Violets – they come in more colors than one! Sure violet is a color, a lighter purple, that is not quite lavender, but not crayon purple, that’s violet. But can violets be yellow?
On this WILDFLOWER WEDNESDAY we’re going to look at the wide variety of colors that violets can be, because April showers are bringing May flowers! Violets tend to bloom early in the spring. Flowers can last into summer if they are in a deeply wooded area where temperatures remain cooler, or near the moist soils of streams.
- Scientific Name: Viola
- Family: Violaceae
- Growing Range: Native to most of the US, and regions of Canada
- Blooming Timeframe: Spring into summer
- Bloom Colors: Various shades of purple, yellow, creme, and white
- Height: Low growing, 1-8″
- Width: Grow in small clusters
- Locations: Meadows, forests, rock crevices in the alpine, subalpine
There are SO MANY types of violets, anywhere from 550-650 species within the family. I have a book (Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest by Mark Turner & Phyllis Gustafson); there are 32 species listed in this book. The territory covered in the book is southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
What does a violet look like? I’m sure everyone is familiar with the Pansy or Johnny-jump-ups sold in garden stores first thing in the spring? The wildflower version of those, so to speak, are violets. Often considered a weed when growing in people’s prized green lawns; but oh so delicate and beautiful when growing in the woods.
Did you notice similarities even though the colors differ? Take a closer look. Each has striped veins leading into the center of the flower, inviting in the pollinators. The slightly larger lower petal acts as a “landing pad” for the pollinators. The inner portions are sometimes slightly hairy, as noticed in the purple flower.
The leaves are often heart-shaped and slightly scalloped. At times they can appear more oval, or triangular. Sometimes they curl towards, and slightly around the stem.
Go out on an adventure. Hike through the woods. Look for small flowers growing low to the ground, are there 5 petals? Do you see the pollinator landing pad? The veins leading the pollinator into the flower? Chances are, you have found a VIOLET! Remember- they can be shades of purple, yellow, creme, or white! Send pictures my way of violets you find- or tag me in a social media post! I’d love to see what you find while on your spring adventure!
To date, Violets can be found in the Baby Ranger Books COLORS Redwoods, and Exploring COLORS Great Smoky Mountains (both featuring purple violets).
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