Birdsfoot violet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Birdsfoot violet
Photographed in Hobbs State Park / Conservation Management Area, northwestern Arkansas
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Viola (plant)
Species:	pedata

The Birdsfoot Violet (also called bird's-foot violet or mountain pansy) is a beautiful wild flower. Its scientific name is Viola pedata. You can find this type of violet growing naturally in sandy places across central and eastern North America. It gets its name "birdsfoot" because its leaves look a bit like a bird's foot!

Different Kinds of Birdsfoot Violets

Birdsfoot Violets come in a few different colors. The two main types are:

• Solid Color Violets: These are called Viola pedata var. lineariloba. Their petals are all one color, usually a pretty pink, lilac, or lavender.
• Two-Tone Violets: These are called Viola pedata var. pedata. They are special because their top two petals are a deep red-purple, while the other petals are the same pink-lilac color as the solid-colored violets.

There's also a rarer kind called Viola pedata var. linearloba forma alba, which has white flowers.

Growing Birdsfoot Violets

Birdsfoot Violets like to grow in specific conditions. They prefer soil that drains water well and is a bit acidic. They also like to be in sunny spots or places that get some sun and some shade.

It can be tricky to grow these violets in a regular garden. This is because they don't like soil that is too rich or has too much moisture. They are used to sandy, drier conditions in the wild.

Gallery

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  Viola pedata var. bicolor

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  A path covered in bird's-foot violets in the Spring Green Preserve in Sauk County, Wisconsin