It's a wonderful surprise to stumble upon a colony of bird's foot violet during a spring hike. These showy plants typically grow in sites that are too harsh for other wildflowers that prefer to be more "pampered". Dry, rocky, sunny slopes are their preferred habitat, and they can be pretty stubborn about what conditions they'll tolerate. They require very well-drained soil, so don't plant them in a flower bed with rich soil that will be watered every day.
Bird's foot violet attracts bees and butterflies. It is a host plant for various fritillary butterflies, including the Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia). It's seed pods will eject the seeds a short distance from the plant where ants may find them and carry them away. Deer typically don't bother with this small plant.
Uses: pollinators, host plant, showy flowers, drought tolerant
Bloom time: April - June, sometimes again in the fall
Height: up to 6 inches
Space: 4 to 8 inches
Sun: Full sun to light shade
Moisture: Dry, well-drained
