Viola pedatifida aka Prairie Violet

Viola pedatifida is a small plant that lives for years. It belongs to the violet family, Violaceae. People call it prairie violet or larkspur-leaved violet. Its home range runs from Saskatchewan east to Ohio. It reaches south to Oklahoma and Arkansas. In Missouri, it grows in prairies and loess hills. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in regions with a temperate climate.

The plant forms low clumps with a round shape. In gardens, it reaches about 0.75 feet [0.23 metres] tall and wide. One account gives its height as 0.67 feet [0.20 metres]. The leaves split into fine, narrow parts like a bird's foot. They also look like larkspur leaves, hence one common name. These deep cuts give the clump a fine texture. Stalks with no leaves hold blooms above the leaves.

The blooms range from blue to deep violet-purple. Each has five petals and a clear spur on the middle petal. They reach about 0.06 feet [0.02 metres] across. Chicago Botanic Garden lists March through June as bloom time. Missouri Botanical Garden says blooms last from spring into summer. The upright flowers do not always set seed. Yet plants can shed many seeds where the site suits them. This can help groups spread past the spots where they first grew.

Grow this violet in moist soil rich in humus. The soil must drain well. Wet ground that drains poorly can cause crown rot. The plant accepts full sun or part shade. Full sun suits the cooler north of its growing range. In the hotter south, part shade is the better choice. Chicago Botanic Garden lists medium water needs and USDA zones 3–8. Missouri Botanical Garden says it grows with ease and needs little care. Neither source says it needs a lot of care.

Its low form suits the front of a garden border. Plant it in groups in rock gardens or cottage gardens. It also suits prairie plantings and works as a groundcover. Blue-purple blooms make a spring show above the cut leaves. Both garden sources say it resists deer. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no major pest or disease problems. In this account, poor drainage poses the main health risk. The evidence gives no food-use or toxicity guidance for this species.