The dog violet has leaves and flowers on the same stalk. The flower (.75") has five light bluish-violet petals, the two lateral ones slightly bearded, the lower one with purple veins and a spur. The leaves are up to 1.75" long, round, heart shaped and weakly scalloped. Overall height of the plant, two to six inches.
The dog violet arrives early and continues blooming, if conditions are right (damp), straight through to July.