Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Smooth Yellow Violet
(Downy Yellow Violet)
Viola pensylvanica
(Viola pubescens)
[C-value
5]
Violet family (Violaceae)
Blooms April -
May
The native Smooth Yellow Violet is common in our area. It prefers partial sun or light shade, moist to average conditions and rich soil with much organic matter. Habitats include open woodlands, woodland edges, savannas, and wooded slopes along streams or ponds. This woodland spring perennial has heart-shaped leaves, about 3" wide and 2½" long, on long petioles.. The leaves have clearly visible parallel veins and coarsely toothed, uneven margins. The yellow flowers on 2-3" stalks are about ¾" across with 5 rounded petals. Thin brownish vein-like lines are prominent on the lower petal.
Smooth Yellow Violet at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 24, 2015
Smooth Yellow Violet at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 24, 2015
Smooth Yellow Violet at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 4, 2013
Smooth Yellow Violet (and Cutleaf-Toothwort) at Millbrook South Forest Preserve May 7, 2013
Note: Smooth Yellow Violet is almost identical to Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens). The key difference, as the common name implies, is that the later has tiny hairs on its stems and leaves.
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