Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Dog Violet (Viola adunca) is a hairy, compact plant with nodding purple flowers blooming from spring through summer. With dark green heart-shaped fragrant leaves spreading via rhizomes (horizontal underground stems), Dog Violet makes a low mat that covers the ground.

Dog Violet grows in shade or part sun, prefers well-drained soil and needs watering year round. Dog Violet hosts moths and butterflies. Native to meadows and forests, Dog Violet makes a great mat groundcover for woodland and meadow gardens.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

6 in Tall

Dormancy

Summer Deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, White, Purple

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Adaptable.

Sunset Zones

1*, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Site type

Sheltered places, along streams

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Lodgepole Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

7 confirmed and 18 likely

Confirmed Likely

Behren's Silverspot

Argynnis zerene behrensii

Oregon Silverspot

Argynnis zerene hippolyta

Myrtle's Silverspot

Argynnis zerene myrtleae

Egleis Fritillary

Speyeria egleis