Viola sororia aka Common Blue Violet

Viola sororia, also known as the common blue violet, is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern North America. It can also be referred to as the common meadow violet, purple violet, woolly blue violet, hooded violet, or wood violet. This plant species is distributed in the eastern half of the United States, Canada, and a part of Eastern Mexico and prefers moist soil in rich, moist woods, and swamps. The cultivar 'Albiflora' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It is a hardy plant that can grow in a variety of soil types and lighting conditions, including semi-shade or no shade. It is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by insects. The species blooms from March to June and may produce cleistogamous seed heads on short stems in late summer and early autumn. While it may be considered a weed by some due to its self-seeding nature, it is a relatively rare houseplant that is not challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. It prefers soil that is well-draining, and if repotted each time it doubles in size, it should not require added fertilizers. The common blue violet belongs to the Viola genus and is native to Eastern and Central North America.