FLOWER OF THE WEEK AT SOPCHOPPY DEPOT PARK

White wood violet

By LYNN ARTZ, SANDY TEDDER and DAVID RODDENBERRY

Common blue violets (Viola sororia) are ground-hugging, perennial wildflowers with green heart-shaped leaves and nodding flowers that are usually purple. However, white color forms occur as can be seen in the northeast garden at Sopchoppy Depot Park. Commonly called white wood violet, the five rounded petals of this form are white to mostly white, except for violet lines on the lower petal. The two side petals have tufts of white hairs inside. The early blooming flowers have few visitors but support specialized bees. Like all violets, the leaves feed the caterpillars of fritillary butterflies. Upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds. White wood violets prefer moist, rich soils in dappled sunlight. Other local species of white violets prefer wetlands and have different shaped leaves.