Downy Yellow Violet

Viola pubescens

Pollinator Value

🐝 Specialist Bee Host: Andrena violae
S17 Viola genus specialist, range includes NY/PA/MA/CT/NH/NJ
❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds consumed by Dark-eyed Junco, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Vesper Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, and American Pipit. Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey are notable consumers, with Viola seeds appearing in 17% and 16% of diet occurrence studies respectively.
S57 S10

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5). Ranked S5 in Ontario and SNR in Quebec. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region with 63 preserved specimens in the Gatineau bounding box and abundant iNaturalist observations.
S22 S26 S48
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A characteristic species of rich mesic deciduous forests, particularly sugar maple-beech-basswood associations. Typically found in the herb layer of mature hardwood stands on loamy, well-drained soils with abundant organic matter. Associates include Hepatica americana, Viola sororia, Ostrya virginiana, and Hamamelis virginiana. Also persists in woodland borders, clearings, and old fencerows.
S7 S10 S12

Roles: Living Mulch
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Living Mulch: S10 keyword match: forms? colon(?:y|ies) (supporting signal only)]

Category: Analgesic, Antidiarrheal, Blood Medicine, Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Dermatological Aid, Respiratory Aid, Tonic, Heart Medicine, Throat Aid, Gastrointestinal Aid
S28
Notes: Cherokee used poultice of leaves for headache, infusion for dysentery, colds, coughs, and as a spring tonic. Root poultice applied to boils. Iroquois used decoction of plant for facial eruptions and indigestion. Ojibwa used root decoction in small doses for sore throat. Potawatomi used root for heart diseases. Cherokee also used root infusion to soak corn before planting as an insecticide.
S28

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Cherokee used leaves and stems mixed with other greens, parboiled, rinsed and fried with grease and salt until soft. Flowers are also reported as edible.
S28 S4