Why choose native plants? Pacific Northwest native plants know how to live here and how to thrive here. They often need much less water and less fertilizer. They spread slowly and are not invasive. They support a wide diversity of wildlife. And best of all, they look great!
Wild cousins of the pansy, stream violets add a charming element to shady understory groundcover in the spring. As its name suggests, it does well in rich, moist woodland soils with full to partial shade. Unlike other native violets that grow in low basal rosettes, Viola glabella’s erect stems grow to 1 ft tall. Heart-shaped foliage stays close to the soil, only reaching a few inches in height. Cute yellow flowers dapple the greenery with a bilateral symmetry. The lower petal acts as a landing pad, equipped with delicate pollination guidelines leading to the nectar spur. The distinctive asymmetrical flowers are bright yellow with maroon veins and look lovely against heart-shaped leaves. Stream viola is listed in Garden Smart Oregon as a great choice for a moist shady location in your garden. Blooms March – August. Photo courtesy of SevenOaks.
