Bird's Foot Violet - Viola pedata
 
Viola pedata, common name Bird’s Foot Violet, prefers sandy, well drained dry to medium moisture soils in full sun to part shade. This species features deeply divided leaves which resemble a bird foot. This American native occurs naturally in dryish soils on rocky wooded slopes or roadsides. Therefore, it is a great addition to areas of poor soil and full sun.  Bird’s Foot Violet is a clump-forming perennial which features flowers of dark purple upper petals and light blue lower petals. It Blooms in early spring, maturing to a height of about 4″. Mass groups in rock gardens for a showy spring display. Violets are host plants for Fritillary butterflies.