American field pansy

American field pansy (Viola rafinesquei) is in the Violet Family family (Violaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,381 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.

Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph American field pansy: observations by month (U.S.)

About American field pansy

Viola rafinesquei (syn. Viola bicolor), commonly known as the American field pansy or wild pansy, is an annual plant in the violet family found throughout much of North America. There has been some debate as to whether the plant is native there or if it was introduced from the Old World as a variety of Viola kitaibeliana, but it is now generally thought to be native to the North America. It is common in disturbed habitats...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

American field pansy by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Violet Family)

Canada VioletViola canadensis

California Golden VioletViola pedunculata

Smooth Yellow VioletViola eriocarpa

Halberd-leaved violetViola hastata

Bird's Foot VioletViola pedata

European field pansyViola arvensis

Long-spurred violetViola rostrata

Stream VioletViola glabella

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ