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Yellow flowers and green foliage of streambank violet (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A close-up side view of a yellow flower on a streambank violet (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A close-up shot of a yellow flower covered in water droplets of streambank violet (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Yellow flowers and green foliage of streambank violet (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Yellow flowers and green foliage of streambank violet (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A wild population of yellow-flowering streambank violets (Viola glabella). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Streambank Violet

$4.95
$4.95

Viola glabella 

Streambank violet (aka yellow wood violet or pioneer violet) has small yellow flowers above delicate, 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 the beneficial insects they support. 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: deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant
  • 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 (April-July in the Portland Metro area)
  • Growth rate/ease: fast growing, 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 for native butterflies and moths
  • Native habitat/range: common in wet open forests, at low to subalpine elevations, from Alaska to northern California. In Oregon and Washington it occurs primarily west of the Cascade crest. Portland Plant List - yes.  
  • Special features & uses: groundcover; landscape uses include pollinator gardens, raingardens, woodland gardens

Gardening with Streambank Violet: Add this woodland sweetheart to your shady raingarden, along paths or under deciduous trees in your habitat garden. To help it thrive, be sure it's planted in soil that's evenly moist and rich with organic material, surrounded by decomposing leaves, and minimize disturbance. This gentle plant is reluctant to spread, so be sure to plant in multiples to achieve a groundcover effect.  that can grow together to create a lovely green carpet groundcover.

Photo Credit 1 (flowerleaf): © Lauren Vorona, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 2 (sideview): © elik03, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 3 (wet): © Jeremiah Degenhardt, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 4 (floweronleaf): © rappman, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 5 (floweringplants): Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

Photo Credit (habitat): © David Dyck, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

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