Bog White Violets

Bog white violet, Viola lanceoleta, is at once both common and rare at the same time. Common in the sense that it’s found over most of eastern North America. Rare in the sense that nowhere is it found in abundance.

It’s also not the most flashy of plants, on the short side, grasslike leaves and flowers that don’t exactly grab the eye, so it’s easy to go unnoticed.

In South Florida, it’s rare enough that Delray Beach’s Institute for Regional Conservation considers it imperiled, something to consider if you do come across it as you wander the wilds.

Bog white violet is a Florida native, found in more than 60 of the state’s 67 counties. The Atlas of Florida Plants and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s PLANTS have slight differences in the exact number of counties, but both agree that bog white violet isn’t found in Broward.

Nationally, bog white violet’s natural range includes ever state east of the Mississippi, plus the states along the west bank of River, plus Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. It’s also found along the Pacific Coast, in Washington, Oregon and California. There is some uncertainty regarding the plants along the west coast, whether they’re native or introduced, whether they’re a subspecies or something different altogether.

Canadian provinces include Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec, Ottawa and British Columbia.

In some states, it’s limited to a few counties, but in others, it’s more widespread.

As the name suggests, bog white violet is a plant that likes it on the wet side, generally on the edges of wetlands. One of the reasons why it’s rare is declining habit.

In addition to the usual places, we’ve also seen it along trails in relatively dry places where passing vehicles have created micro habitats, depressions in the ground where water can collect. Bog white violet can be found in places with full sun or full shade.

Bog white violet typically grows to about six inches tall, with two to six grasslike leaves. It lacks a main stem. Flowers are bright white, with five petals and borne singly on stalks called pedicels, which can be bent over at the top like a shepherd’s crook. The lower petals have prominent purple veining called a signal that helps pollinators find the throat.

Blooming season is generally considered March to May, but we’ve seen bog white violet with flowers in late January. Later in the season, bog white violet puts out inconspicuous flowers that are self-pollinating — cleistogamous in the language of botanists.

Bog white violet sends out stolons, a kind of underground stem, from which new plants emerge. Small colonies can form.

Bog white violet is a perennial.

Other common names include lanceleaf violet, bog white viola and strapleaf viola. It is a member of Violaceae, the violet family. Bog white violet, Viola lanceoleta, is at once both common and rare at the same time. Common in the sense that it’s found over most of eastern North America. Rare in the sense that nowhere is it found in abundance.

It’s also not the most flashy of plants, on the short side, grasslike leaves and flowers that don’t exactly grab the eye, so it’s easy to go unnoticed.

In South Florida, it’s rare enough that Delray Beach’s Institute for Regional Conservation considers it imperiled, something to consider if you do come across it as you wander the wilds.

Bog white violet is a Florida native, found in more than 60 of the state’s 67 counties. The Atlas of Florida Plants and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s PLANTS have slight differences in the exact number of counties, but both agree that bog white violet isn’t found in Broward.

Nationally, bog white violet’s natural range includes ever state east of the Mississippi, plus the states along the west bank of River, plus Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. It’s also found along the Pacific Coast, in Washington, Oregon and California. There is some uncertainty regarding the plants along the west coast, whether they’re native or introduced, whether they’re a subspecies or something different altogether.

Canadian provinces include Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec, Ottawa and British Columbia.

In some states, it’s limited to a few counties, but in others, it’s more widespread.

As the name suggests, bog white violet is a plant that likes it on the wet side, generally on the edges of wetlands. One of the reasons why it’s rare is declining habit.

In addition to the usual places, we’ve also seen it along trails in relatively dry places where passing vehicles have created micro habitats, depressions in the ground where water can collect. Bog white violet can be found in places with full sun or full shade.

Bog white violet typically grows to about six inches tall, with two to six grasslike leaves. It lacks a main stem. Flowers are bright white, with five petals and borne singly on stalks called pedicels, which can be bent over at the top like a shepherd’s crook. The lower petals have prominent purple veining called a signal that helps pollinators find the throat.

Blooming season is generally considered March to May, but we’ve seen bog white violet with flowers in late January. Later in the season, bog white violet puts out inconspicuous flowers that are self-pollinating — cleistogamous in the language of botanists.

Bog white violet sends out stolons, a kind of underground stem, from which new plants emerge. Small colonies can form.

Bog white violet is a perennial.

Other common names include lanceleaf violet, bog white viola and strapleaf viola. It is a member of Violaceae, the violet family.

Sweetbay Natural Area