Viola pedata L.
Birdfoot Violet, Bird’s-foot Violet, Bird-foot Violet
Violaceae (Violet Family)
Synonym(s): Viola pedata var. concolor, Viola pedata var. lineariloba, Viola pedata var. ranunculifolia
USDA Symbol: vipe
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Bird-foot Violet is a low, clumped perennial, 4-10+ in. high, with large, almost pansy-sized flowers. The leaves, almost round in outline, are 3/4-2 inches long, deeply cut into 3-5 segments, and these again narrowly lobed. The leaf stem is 4-6 inches long. Flowers are pale to dark purple, broad, flat, 1-1 1/2 inches across. They have 5 petals, the 2 upper ones smaller than the lower 3 and deep violet. The lowest petal has the dark streakings which are common to most violets. There are 5 stamens with brilliant orange anthers.

A most beautiful Violet of dry, upland sites. Its showy, light violet-blue flowers, distinctive “bird’s-foot”-shaped leaves make it easy to identify. It is pollinated by bees and butterflies. The bicolored form of this species, with its 2 upper petals a deep violet and the lower 3 a lilac shade, has been considered the most beautiful Violet in the world. This violet does not reproduce vegetatively like most other violets. Reproduction is by seed only.