Bare Root Striped Cream Violet (Viola striata)

Plant type: perennial wildflower
Description: 5” height; heart shape leaves; creamy white blooms with violet stripe
Habit: herbaceous ground cover; 5” height
Culture: Prefers rich, slightly moist to slightly dry soils in part to full shade
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 through 7

Viola striata, native to eastern North America, is a ground cover perennial that spreads easily by seed. They do not send runners, and do not form tight rosettes like other violas. The areal stems have heart shaped leaves, and the creamy white flowers are striped with violet when in bloom from May to June, a longer bloom time than most other native violas.

These plants are one of the larval hosts for various species of fritillary butterflies, and provide nectar for skippers and bees - a great naturalizing addition to a shaded garden or woodland area.

This plant will ship bare root.

Bare root planting tips:

~ If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center.

~ Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery.

~ Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.