New Jersey's State Flower is also known as Common Blue Violet, Confederate Violet, and Woolly Blue Violet. A member of the Violaceae family, this perennial varies in colour, from purple to blue to white.

Its fragrant flower has 5 unequal petals; the upper 2 petals are egg-shaped and the 3 lower ones are bearded and have darker veins. Each flower, measuring from 1.2 to 2.5 cm, has a leafless stalk, up to 10 cm long. Its basal leaves are heart-shaped with notched margins, 1 to 5 cm wide. Its leaf and flower stalks are downy haired.

In the Algonquin Highlands you might find these beautiful little blossoms from May to June, growing in wet wooded areas, or any area with moist soil.

The leaves and flowers are edible, delicious, and healthy. They Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Some use the flowers to garnish cakes. Butterflies’ larva also are fond of the Violet, especially those from the Fritillary family.