Flowers Growing at Our Home

Wood Violet

Viola glabella - Most of us think of Violets as purple flowers. However, most of the Northwest's native violets are yellow or a combination of white, blue, or yellow.This yellow-flowered violet has erect, leafy stems 6 to 12 inches tall and broad, heart-shaped leaves. They spread from a horizontal rootstock, a trait which makes it a good ground cover for native gardens. The irregular five-petaled flower has the characteristic shape of other members of this group. There are two lateral petals, two upper petals, and one lower petal that is spurred at the base. In wood violet, the lateral and lower petals are dark-veined. This violet grows in moist woodlands from Alaska to California. We found ours in the area above the house.