Birdfoot Violet Plant Care
Viola pedata var. lineariloba DC.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Viola pedata, the birdsfoot violet, bird's-foot violet, or mountain pansy, is a violet native to sandy areas in central and eastern North America.
Partial shade to full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Birdfoot Violet?
Birdfoot Violet grows best in partial shade to full sun.
Where Is the Birdfoot Violet Native To?
What Is the Birdfoot Violet?
Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata var. lineariloba) belongs to the Violaceae family within the Viola genus. Birdfoot Violet is native to sandy areas in central and eastern North America. Birdfoot Violet is also known as Crested Violet.
Birdfoot Violet displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Birdfoot Violet produces small, delicate flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the Birdfoot Violet Need?
Birdfoot Violet thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Birdfoot Violet?
Well-draining, fertile soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Birdfoot Violet to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Birdfoot Violet?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Birdfoot Violet?
Birdfoot Violet can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to hooked violet plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Birdfoot Violet Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Birdfoot Violet, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Birdfoot Violet?
Birdfoot Violet is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Birdfoot Violet Need?
Birdfoot Violet grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 8b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Birdfoot Violet is native to sandy areas in central and eastern North America.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 4a – 8b
Keep exploring plants
Birdfoot Violet is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Viola genus — compare its care with other Viola species on PlantoScan.
Viola is part of the Violaceae plant family — browse all Violaceae genera and species.
Birdfoot Violet thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Viola Species
Other Viola species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Viola pedata var. lineariloba DC., family Violaceae (first published in Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 1: 291. 1824 [mid Jan 1824]) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Birdfoot Violet, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 4a – 8b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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