Canary Violet

Viola praemorsa

Native to:
Canada, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Violaceae
Genus:
Viola
Species:
Viola praemorsa
USDA Symbol:
VIPR3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
15 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellow

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

Atlantis fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, fritillary larvae
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rootstock following fire; historically found in fire-maintained prairies and grasslands.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
prefers open, sunny habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds may germinate erratically; cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Requires 120 days cool (38F) and moist stratification prior to germination

Establishment: Commonly found in the Western US and Canada

Source: npn.rngr.net