Beckwith's Violet

Viola beckwithii

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Violaceae
Genus:
Viola
Species:
Viola beckwithii
USDA Symbol:
VIBE2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
10 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
purple, yellow, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

⚠️Callippe fritillary (Speyeria callippe), Coronis fritillary (Speyeria coronis)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid, rocky habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification and may germinate erratically over several weeks.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: Claude AI