Taxon: Viola sororia Willd.

Summary

Genus:

Viola

Family:

Violaceae

Subfamily:

Violoideae

Tribe:

Violeae

Nomen number:

402751

Place of publication:

Hort. berol. 1: t. 72. 1806

Verified:

11/14/2003 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

32 (24 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Viola sororia Willd. var. affinis (Leconte) L. E. McKinney (0 active accession[s])
Viola sororia Willd. var. missouriensis (Greene) L. E. McKinney (1 active accession[s])
Viola sororia Willd. var. novae-angliae (House) L. E. McKinney (0 active accession[s])
Viola sororia Willd. var. sororia (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Viola sororia Willd. f. sororia

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
American Herbal Products Association. 1992. Herbs of commerce
Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California
Hinds, H. R. 2000. Flora of New Brunswick, ed. 2.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Jones, G. N. & G. D. Fuller. 1955. Vascular plants of Illinois.
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
McKinney, L. A. 1992. A taxonomic revision of the acaulescent blue violets (Viola) of North America. Sida, Bot. Misc. 7:34.
McKinney, L. E. & N. H. Russell. 2002. Violaceae of the southeastern United States. Castanea 67:378.
McKinney, L. E. 1992. A taxonomic revision of the acaulescent blue violets (Viola) of North America
Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Viola palmata var. sororia (Willd.) Pollard
Russell, N. H. 1965. Violets (Viola) of central and eastern United States: An introductory survey. Sida 2:60.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2.
Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	bayou violet	1	Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
English	blue praire violet	1	Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
English	common blue violet	1	Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
English	dooryard violet	1	Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
English	downy blue violet	1	Jones, G. N. & G. D. Fuller. 1955. Vascular plants of Illinois.
English	sister violet	1	Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
English	violet	1	American Herbal Products Association. 1992. Herbs of commerce
English	woolly blue violet	1	Hinds, H. R. 2000. Flora of New Brunswick, ed. 2.
French	violette septentrionale	2	Hinds, H. R. 2000. Flora of New Brunswick, ed. 2.
Japanese Rōmaji	amerika-fuki-sumire	2	Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Japanese Rōmaji	amerika-sumire-saishin	2	Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Swedish	fjärilsviol	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick	Hinds, H. R. 2000. Flora of New Brunswick, ed. 2.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Nova Scotia	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Prince Edward Island	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois	Jones, G. N. & G. D. Fuller. 1955. Vascular plants of Illinois.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan	Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio	Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia	Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Idaho
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Oregon
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Washington
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas	Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina	Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Viola palmata var. sororia (Willd.) Pollard
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina	Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Viola palmata var. sororia (Willd.) Pollard
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee	Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California	Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Nevada
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Utah
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Canada	Northwest Territories	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	British Columbia	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.

Native
Northern America

SUBARCTIC AMERICA: Canada [Northwest Territories]
EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, Connecticut]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah]

Reference(s)

Diggs, G. M., Jr. et al. 1999. Shinner's and Mahler's illustrated flora of North Central Texas.
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California
Hinds, H. R. 2000. Flora of New Brunswick, ed. 2.
Jones, G. N. & G. D. Fuller. 1955. Vascular plants of Illinois.
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Viola palmata var. sororia (Willd.) Pollard
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2.
Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=402751. Accessed 10 May 2026.