Labrador Violet
(Viola labradorica)

Labrador Violet (Viola labradorica), also known as Alpine Violet or American Dog Violet, is a charming, low-growing perennial native to northeastern North America, including parts of Canada and the northern United States. It typically grows 3 to 6 inches tall and forms spreading mats of heart-shaped, deep green to purplish leaves that provide attractive groundcover in shaded settings. In early to mid-spring (April to June), it produces small, five-petaled, violet-purple flowers that rise just above the foliage on slender stalks. These blooms add subtle color and early-season interest to woodland edges, shady rock gardens, and moist garden beds.
Labrador Violet thrives in partial to full shade and prefers cool, moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. It is hardy in USDA Zones 2 through 8 and is naturally found in alpine meadows, moist woodlands, forest edges, and tundra environments. The plant is often used as a groundcover or edging plant in shaded areas and can self-seed lightly, spreading slowly to form colonies without becoming aggressive.
Ecologically, Viola labradorica provides early-season nectar for native bees and small pollinators, and its seeds are dispersed by ants through a process called myrmecochory. It may also serve as a larval host for fritillary butterflies, which rely on violets as food plants for their caterpillars. Its dense foliage can provide shelter for small invertebrates and help reduce soil erosion in shaded, damp environments.