Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Woodland Violet

Viola riviniana

Typically in season from March to June, peaking around April to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Woodland Violet (Viola riviniana)

Photo: (c) Fabien Piednoir, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fabien Piednoir · iNaturalist

When Woodland Violet is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in October

Where it grows

Woodland Violet is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Only forage with a confident ID.

Early dog-violet
Sweet violetSweet violet
Heath dog-violet

Take Woodland Violet into the field

Open Woodland Violet in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Woodland Violet: common questions

When is Woodland Violet in season?

Woodland Violet is generally in season from March to June, with its peak around April to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Woodland Violet grow?

Woodland Violet is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Woodland Violet safe to forage?

Similar species: Early dog-violet, Sweet violet, Heath dog-violet. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits