Viola glabella
Aka Yellow Wood Violet or Pioneer Violet
Streambank Violet’s small yellow flowers above delicate, green, heart-shaped leaves 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
- Bloom Time: March to August
- Growth rate/ease: fast, easy to grow
- Native habitat/range: Common in wet open forests in the PNW. Portland Plant List - yes.
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 Credits 2 - 4: Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants