Downy Yellow Violet

Viola pubescens

Pollinator Value

🐝 Specialist Bee Host: Andrena violae
S17 Andrena (Iomelissa) violae, genus-level Viola specialist, range includes NY/PA/CT/NJ/MA/NH
❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds consumed by Dark-eyed Junco, Ruffed Grouse, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Vesper Sparrow, American Pipit, California Quail, and Lapland Longspur. Ruffed Grouse show particularly high dietary occurrence (17%). Seeds are small capsule-borne and persist into winter.
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: Secure throughout Ontario (S5) and Apparently Secure in Quebec (S4). Global rank T5. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common in rich deciduous forests across eastern North America. The species is widespread and abundant across its range.
S22+S26
Rarity Ranks: QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A characteristic herb of rich mesic to dry deciduous forests, particularly sugar maple and beech-maple associations. Favours well-drained loamy soils with abundant organic matter. Found in woodland borders, thickets, and alluvial woods throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Unlike stemless blue violets, this caulescent species produces leafy flowering stems from scaly rhizomes.
S10+S4+S12+S7

Roles: pollinator attractor, ground cover, insectary
S10+S17 attracts specialist bees and diverse pollinators; provides ground-level cover in forest guilds

Category: Analgesic, Antidiarrheal, Blood Medicine, Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Dermatological Aid, Respiratory Aid, Tonic, Gastrointestinal Aid, Throat Aid, Heart Medicine
S28 Cherokee, Iroquois, Ojibwa, Potawatomi uses
Notes: Extensively used by Cherokee peoples: leaf poultice for headache, infusions for dysentery, colds, cough (with sugar), and as spring tonic; root poultice for boils; nasal spray for catarrh. Iroquois used decoction of plant for facial eruptions and indigestion. Southern Ojibwa used root decoction for sore throat. Potawatomi used root for heart diseases.
S28

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Flowers are edible and can be used as garnish or in salads. Cherokee peoples mixed leaves and stems with other greens, parboiled, rinsed and fried with grease and salt until soft (Perry 1975).
S4+S28