White violet
Viola primulifolia
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part shade
Water
high
Size
3"–6" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CA, CT and 30 more states
Pollinators
small 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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPrimrose-leaf violet is a low, spreading perennial forb with rounded, primrose-like leaves and small white flowers with purple veining. It grows in wet meadows and along the edges of bogs, forming loose colonies.
Wildlife value
Host plant for Great Spangled Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary.
Violets as a group are the primary larval host genus for fritillary butterflies, including the Great Spangled Fritillary and Variegated Fritillary, and the flowers also provide early nectar for small bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does White violet need?
- White violet grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does White violet bloom?
- White violet blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is White violet native?
- White violet (Viola primulifolia) is native to AL, AR, CA, CT and 30 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does White violet host?
- White 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.
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