Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

One of the things I like best about Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata) is that it grows well in waste places, locations with dry, rocky and not very fertile soil -- like on the embankment along our road out. Oddly enough, the Missouri Botanical Garden site linked above says Viola pedata is "Considered more difficult to grow than most other violets." Around here, they seem to be doing well growing and spreading with no attention from us.


On our Friday walk, we saw one Bird's Foot Violet blooming. Dozens were blooming on Saturday.


The flower's common name is based on its deeply divided leaves which somewhat resemble a bird's foot.

Please visit Today's Flowers and Macro Monday for more photos.

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Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bi-Color Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

(Photo: 3/27/09 by Marvin)

Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bird's Foot Violet is a very common wildflower in the Ozark Mountains. It's preference for rocky and dry woodlands means it finds much of the Ozarks ideal habitat. Bi-color bird's foot violets are less common than solid colored, but one still sees many of them. The cluster pictured above was growing at the top of the first hill along our road out -- about the same place where the census taker abandoned her car and decided to walk the rest of the way down to our place -- definitely rocky.

According to Wildflowers of Missouri:

Flowering - April - June and sometimes again in late fall.
Habitat - Rocky or dry open woods, slopes, ridges, prairies, glades, roadsides.
Origin - Native to U.S.
Other info. - This is a striking and easily identifiable species. The flowers are very large and the leaves are finely divided and are similar to a birds foot. The common name for the plant is "Bird's Foot Violet".

Other Sources and Information:
Discover Life
Missouri Botanical Gardens

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Bi-Color Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Normally a spring-blooming wildflower, a few bird's foot violets along the road out insist upon late summer or early fall blooming too.

Additional Resources:
Discover Life
Missouri Plants
Missouri Botanical Garden

Previous Post: April 9, 2007

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Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)