Sweet White Violet - Viola blanda

Viola blanda, or Sweet White Violet, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. This is a tiny woodland flower that brightens up the forest floor. It prefers a habitat with some moisture - mixed hardwood or conifer forests, hemlock, and stream banks. This plant reaches 3 to 6 inches in height and blooms early, May or sometimes April, with a delicate white flower. The purple nectar markings add a nice contrast. Sometimes Sweet Violets bloom again in the fall.
 
Good for rock gardens, shade garden borders or between larger plants, or use as part of a shade ground-cover. Medium to wet humusy soil in part to full shade. Spreads by runners to create groupings. Host plant Fritillary butterflies and an important resource for our early-rising bees.