Viola labradorica – Alpine Violet

We had long sold a purple form of the Eurasian Wood Violet, Viola riviana var. purpurea, as the native Labrador or Alpine Violet. Everyone else in horticulture still does. After realizing our mistake, we decided to track down the real native species; turns out we didn’t have to go all the way to Labrador to find it. It’s growing in the backyard of the house in which I (Francis) grew up, in Lomontville. I long knew it as the American Dog Violet, V. conspersa, but botanists now consider that species to be synonymous with V. labradorica. Whatever name it goes by, it’s a cute little violet for open woodland that, like most violets, self-sows where it’s happiest. Occurs throughout most of New York State. Host plant for the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly and related species.

Our production on this species is sporadic. We believe we will have some available for sale in 2025.