How much sun does Smooth yellow violet need?

Smooth yellow violet grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Smooth yellow violet bloom?

Smooth yellow violet blooms in April and May.

Where is Smooth yellow violet native?

Smooth yellow violet (Viola eriocarpa) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Smooth yellow violet host?

Smooth yellow violet is a larval host plant for great spangled fritillary and variegated fritillary.

Smooth yellow violet

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Viola eriocarpa

Last reviewed: November 2026

Smooth yellow violet (Viola eriocarpa) is a perennial forb native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bees.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Smooth yellow violet, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Smooth yellow violet (Viola eriocarpa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

4"–10" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Smooth yellow violet.

Try it with your yard

A low, clump-forming woodland violet with heart-shaped leaves and small bright yellow flowers with fine purple-brown veining on the lower petal. Forms a tidy, low patch in rich deciduous woodland.

Growing Smooth yellow violet

Grow Smooth yellow violet in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 10 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for great spangled fritillary, variegated fritillary.

Spring flowers provide early nectar for small bees, and the foliage is a larval host for great spangled and variegated fritillary butterflies.

Common questions

How much sun does Smooth yellow violet need?: Smooth yellow violet grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Smooth yellow violet bloom?: Smooth yellow violet blooms in April and May.
Where is Smooth yellow violet native?: Smooth yellow violet (Viola eriocarpa) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Smooth yellow violet host?: Smooth yellow violet is a larval host plant for great spangled fritillary and variegated fritillary.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Smooth yellow violet? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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