Flower profile
Long-spurred violet
Viola rostrata
Long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata) is a flowering plant in the Violaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.
Long-spurred violet is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Kentucky it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Kentucky
Quick look
Viola rostrata, commonly called the long-spurred violet, is an herbaceous plant in the violet family (Violaceae). It is native to eastern North America, where it is found in Canada and the United States, primarily in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Appalachian regions. Its natural habitat is acidic mesic forests, often growing near Tsuga canadensis.
- It belongs to the Violaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Kentucky. NatureServe
- In Kentucky, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 634 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #102 among the 178 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Kentucky, most flowering sightings come in March–April.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Kentucky
- Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NH (SH). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records long-spurred violet in 20 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Kentucky counties with USDA records: Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 405 counties across 18 states; the most are in Ohio (62), Michigan (60), Pennsylvania (51).
Other Viola on Bloomipedia (14): Violets, Smooth yellow violet, Bird's foot violet, Canada violet, American field pansy, Stream violet, Cream violet, Hookedspur violet, Halberd-leaved violet, Primrose-leaved violet.
More Kentucky flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile VIRO.
- iNaturalist, Viola rostrata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Viola rostrata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
- Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Viola rostrata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Clay Gibbons via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.