Viola pedatifida Prairie Violets

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

Visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website to view the natural range of Viola pedatifida .
Listed as Endangered - By the Ohio Department of Natural Conservation Resource
Prairie Violets thriving in a nursery pot, they will be much happier once planted in a sunny garden

Cultivation Information

Newly transplanted Prairie Violets seem especially happy in their new home
Height - 6 inchesFlower Color - PurpleBlooms - April - June then SeptemberSoil - MediumSun - Sun to Part SunPerennial Hardy Zone - 3 to 9Family - Violaceae
Great Spangled Fritillary - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - by © Nancy Piltch - Prairie violets are the host plant for Great Spangled Fritillary caterpillars
Prairie Violets adding a slpash of color

Wildlife Significance Viola pedatifida

Host Plant - Dr Hilty mentions on his Illinois Wildflower site that little is known about what insects visit this flower, the assumption is, Prairie Violets attract insects similar to other violet species. Violets are the host plant for the Great Spangled and Aphrodite Fritillary caterpillars

Host Plant - Great Spangled, Variegated fritillary, Silver-bordered fritillary, Meadow fritillary, Zerene fritillary, Atlantis fritillary and Aphrodite Fritillary caterpillars Nectar Source - For several Frittillary species Oligolectic Bees – bees that specialize in gathering nectar and pollen from a very specific plant, violets serve as that plant for the Andrea violae (Mining Bee)
Deer - Are not fond of violets For more detailed information, visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Viola pedatifida
Stratifying Seeds
Cold Storage - 60 days - Small zip lock plastic bag with a few tablespoons of moistened vermiculite
Seeds Planted - 2-8-2012Sprouted - 2-14-2012
Night Temperature - 61 - 63 °FDay Temperature - 64 - 65 °F - Under florescent lightsDon't over water Seeds require cold, moist storage in order to germinate
Seed Provenance Viola pedatifida
2012 Nodding Onion Gardens, 2011 Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN