Viola glabella
Streambank violet (aka yellow wood violet or pioneer violet) has small yellow flowers above delicate, green, heart-shaped leaves that are a common sight for hikers as they make their way near streams in shady moist forests. Bring them into your own woodland garden for the cheery yellow blooms and for woodland pollinators. Look closely at the bottom petal and you’ll see the fine dark purple guide lines leading pollinators to their nectar source.
- Plant type/canopy layer: perennial herbaceous plant/ground layer
- Size at maturity: 4-9” tall, 6-12” wide
- Light requirements: full shade, part sun / part shade
- Moisture requirements: moist to wet soil, well-drained
- Bloom Time: March to August
- Growth rate/ease: fast, easy to grow
- Wildlife support: flowers attract and provide nectar to adult butterflies, bees and other insect pollinators; overall plant attracts and supports beneficial and other pest eating insects and is a caterpillar host plant/larval food source
- Native habitat/range: common in wet open forests in the PNW. Portland Plant List - yes.
- Special features & uses: landscape uses include pollinator gardens, raingardens, woodland gardens; groundcover
Gardening with Streambank Violet: Add to your moist, shady woodland garden, making sure to give them plenty of rich, organic soil, just like they would have in the forest. Plant in multiples that can grow together to create a lovely green carpet groundcover.
Photo credit 1:"Wood violet" by nordique is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Photo credit 2: "Viola glabella" by peganum is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0