| Author | Greene | |
| Distribution | Nearly statewide, but scarce near the coast, where it is absent to very rare.
This is a widespread Central and Eastern species, found from NY and SD south to northern FL and central TX. | |
| Abundance | Common to very common over the state, except rare to uncommon in the southern Coastal Plain and near the coast. Seems to have spread to the coast in recent decades with roadside mowing. | |
| Habitat | This is the only native violet that occurs in ruderal habitats almost exclusively. It grows in fields, roadsides, vacant lots, and lawns, though it can grow in open woods and barrens. |
| Phenology | Blooms from March to May, and fruits shortly after flowering. One of the sure signs of Spring. | |
| Identification | This is a very familiar roadside plant, appearing to be an exotic species, though certainly a native one. This violet is erect and has leaves coming of the stem and branches (i.e., caulescent). The leaves are on long petioles and with a rounded to ovate blade, each blade only about 1/4-1/3-inch long and across. The numerous flowers are on long stalks and are light blue to medium blue, with a whitish center, barely 1/3-1/2-inch across. The species can grow in large patches on lawns and roadsides. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | The species was known for some decades as V. bicolor.
General note on Viola: In 2009-10 B.A. Sorrie (website map editor) went through the whole collection at NCU, annotating all specimens against those verified by experts in the genus. The range maps in RAB (1968) have been changed accordingly. More recently, Harvey Ballard and colleagues are in the process of revising all Eastern and Southeastern Viola, and have annotated all specimens at NCU in July 2024. They recognize additional species not in RAB or in previous editions of Weakley et al.; we will follow updated editions of Weakley et al. in recognizing them. Species range maps have been adjusted to account for identification changes. | |
| Other Common Name(s) | Wild Pansy, Field Pansy | |
| State Rank | S5 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
