Nuttall's Violet

Viola nuttallii

Nuttall's Violet

Sheri Hagwood

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Violaceae
Genus:
Viola
Species:
Viola nuttallii

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
6 in - 1 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
Yellow
Ground Cover:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wyoming

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Bee Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite), ⚠️Callippe fritillary (Speyeria callippe), Coronis fritillary (Speyeria coronis), Edwards' fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii), Great Basin fritillary (Speyeria egleis), Hydaspe fritillary (Speyeria hydaspe), Mormon fritillary (Speyeria mormonia), 🛑Zerene fritillary (Speyeria zerene)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Prefers open, sunny habitats like prairies

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o