Common blue violet
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Viola sororia
Native Colorado plant · not on state Lists A/B/C. C-floristic-2020 CO-rules-2025
A native volunteer; identify the species before removing. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: This is one member of CSU’s broader “Viola spp.” topic, not coverage of every Colorado violet. CNHP includes Viola sororia as native; photos and the profile do not resolve all members of the species complex.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Source-identified V. sororia, a variable violet with differing flower colors and taxonomic treatments. Similar stemless violets and hybrids require additional characters; no cultivar, segregate taxon, or hybrid status is determined from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative, reduced from the original; no crop, color change, upscaling, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.
Dalgial · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Source-identified V. sororia, a variable violet with differing flower colors and taxonomic treatments. Similar stemless violets and hybrids require additional characters; no cultivar, segregate taxon, or hybrid status is determined from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative, reduced from the original; no crop, color change, upscaling, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.
Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Source-identified V. sororia, a variable violet with differing flower colors and taxonomic treatments. Similar stemless violets and hybrids require additional characters; no cultivar, segregate taxon, or hybrid status is determined from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative, reduced from the original; no crop, color change, upscaling, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.
Identification
Basal, heart-shaped leaves and purple to white spring flowers arise on separate stalks. Later closed flowers can also produce seed. N-viola-sororia
People
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Dogs & cats
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Other animals
Rabbits browse the plant, and birds and small mammals use its seeds. Wildlife use does not establish domestic-animal feeding safety. N-viola-sororia
Plants & habitat
Rhizomes and self-seeding allow it to spread in moist, fertile sites. It also supports bees and butterflies and may be welcome groundcover. N-viola-sororia
Management & timing
Confirm identity and decide whether a native patch can remain. For an unwanted lawn colony, CSU suggests removal when soil is moist; its advice covers wild violets as a group. C-descriptions
Evidence scope: Viola group management.
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
References
- C-floristic-2020 — Colorado Floristic Quality Assessment: 2020 Update, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:27:33+00:00. Locator: Appendix B, Colorado species list: scientific name and native/non-native fields.
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- N-viola-sororia — Viola sororia, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:23:11+00:00. Locator: Description, identification attributes and plant problems; toxicity section where present.
- C-descriptions — Weed descriptions, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:24:02+00:00. Locator: Species entries.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.