Common blue violet
Viola sororia
A native perennial with heart-shaped basal leaves and purple, blue or sometimes white spring flowers. It occurs in lawns, woodland edges and gardens. Properly identified young leaves and flowers have culinary uses in greens, salads and garnishes.
Native range
Eastern and central North America, including Ontario.
Typical season
Flowers are a spring reference and leaf availability differs. Leave flowers and foliage for pollinators and plant growth. The regional checklist records the species but does not establish a neighbourhood harvest calendar.
Identification
Check scalloped heart-shaped leaves, flowers with five unequal petals and the small rear spur. Other violet species occur locally; this profile refers to Viola sororia. African violets are unrelated houseplants. Do not identify a non-flowering rosette from leaf shape alone; roots are not included in this food reference.