Alpine Violet - Viola labradorica

Viola labradorica, also known as Alpine, Labrador, or American Dog Violet, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. This petite flower maxes out at 4 to 6 inches in height but still hosts fritillary butterfly caterpillars. It likes living on the edge -  edges of clearings, forests, shores, paths, and rock features. Like many diminutive plants, it would be crowded out in the dense competition of taller vegetation. Edge habitats offer it room to sprawl and spread. 
 
Alpine violets make a good groundcover, spreading loosely by seed and creeping runners. They naturalize well into lawns and tolerate being mowed, and are equally at home around paving stones or arching down rock faces. They are especially cute clustered around the base of trees, where they pair well with Wood Anemone, Starflower, and Canada Mayflower.
 
We have seen them mostly in the bright shade of deciduous woods, in rich forest loam with decent moisture. Apparently they can also tolerate full sun, but I would expect they need consistent moisture to tolerate the heat. Recommended for shade gardens, rock gardens, naturalizing into lawns, and path edges. Lavendar to purple blooms appear in May or June.