Russian Almond vs Early Blue Violet - TreeTime.ca

Russian Almond vs Early Blue Violet

Prunus tenella

Viola adunca

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Russian Almond
Early Blue Violet

Russian Almond is a low maintenance, short, slightly suckering shrub. It is covered with attractive, bright pink flowers in early spring before its foliage emerges.

This hardy species forms dense thickets attracts wildlife. Russian Almond prefers full sun and well-drained soils, but can tolerate moist soils.

The nuts it produces are quite attractive but very small. They are bitter and possibly toxic in large quantities.

Check out our YouTube channel video of the Russian Almond here.

Early Blue Violet is a low-growing native perennial wildflower valued for its striking early-spring blooms. The flowers range in color from vibrant blue to deep violet, often marked with pale highlights and fine white hairs. They provide an important early nectar source for pollinators and serve as a host plant for several fritillary butterfly species.

It spreads by both seed and rhizomes, gradually forming small colonies. Its dark green, heart-shaped leaves add ornamental appeal, and the plant shows some resistance to deer browsing. Early Blue Violet is well-suited to naturalization projects and pollinator-friendly gardens, and has also been used in coastal butterfly habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest.

Russian Almond Quick Facts

Early Blue Violet Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: low growing, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, rhizomes - medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: rhizomes, fruit, seed poisonous to humans
Flowers: bright pink
Flowers: purple to blue-violet
Bloom time: mid spring to early summer
Nuts: small fuzzy nuts
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, YT, NT
Other Names: dwarf russian almond
Other Names: dog violet, hookedspur violet, sand violet, western blue violet