HEATH DOG-VIOLET Viola canina

Heath Dog Violet bears small, unscented flowers in soft blue-violet, flowering from April through June. The blooms measure approximately 1.5–2 cm across and consist of five petals, with the lower petal marked by darker veins that serve as nectar guides. Unlike Viola riviniana, the spur is typically paler than the petals and is narrow and straight in form.

This perennial herb occurs in a range of acidic habitats, including heathland, sandy inland grasslands, coastal sand dunes, and stony margins of rivers and lakes shores.

This species has suffered a severe and continuine decline since the 1960s.

BSBI 2025 Categorisation: Vulnerable

Flowering: April to June

Height: 10cm

Colour: Violet / Blue