Viola cucullata

Marsh blue violet’s pretty blooms sit poised atop their delicate stems like fluttering creatures paused mid-flight. The stems are taller than those of many other violet species, reaching up to 10”, and giving an added touch of elegance to the plant. In nature, marsh blue violets tend to occur in wetland environments such as the edges of swamps and marshes and along streams. In the home garden, marsh blue violet prefers wet or consistently moist soils, and sunlight ranging from full exposure to shade. If planted in soils of average moisture, marsh blue violet may need to be watered during summer dry spells. The plant spreads via both seed and rhizome to form small colonies, but it is not an aggressive plant and does not spread to the degree of the common blue violet, which frequently inhabits lawns. Marsh blue violet is appropriate for both formal and naturalized gardens, especially rain gardens and plantings in wet places. The plant’s diminutive size makes it suitable for areas reserve