Bird's foot violet (Viola pedata)

©Photo by Hilary Cox

©Photo by Kay Yatskievych

This species seems to be everyone's favorite violet. The large, flat-faced flowers with prominent orange stamens and the very finely cut leaves distinguish birdfoot violet. Coast violet and early blue violet have cut leaves, but their flowers look fairly different.

• Family: Violet (Violaceae)
• Habitat: dry, sandy fields; sunny rocky areas
• Height: 4-10 inches
• Flower size: 1 to 1-1/2 inches
• Flower color: purple; upper petals sometimes much darker than the lower petals
• Flowering time: April to June
• Origin: native