Wild Violet
(Viola nephrophylla)

One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in the spring, the wild violet is also one of the most familiar.  The flowers can be blue, violet, lavender, reddish-purple or whitish.

The wild violet is also called blue prairie violet, prairie blue violet, hooded blue violet, meadow blue violet and butterfly violet.

The early settlers made a jelly from the flowers as well as a tea to treat headaches and sore throats.  The leaves are very high in vitamin A and vitamin C.

The violet is the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.