Canadian White Violet

May 4, 2026

The Canadian White Violet (Viola canadensis), blooming now in the woods up here. It has many other common names. That’s why knowing the scientific name helps out a great deal, no confusion with that name since there is only one.

It’s common throughout Canada and the US, from Alaska to Newfoundland, extending south to Georgia and west to Arizona. Its white blooms have a yellow center, sometimes with purple streaks, as you can see on this one. The backs of its petals are tinged with purple. The heart-shaped leaves have rounded teeth.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.