Your plant probably is a hybrid, as you say, but it also looks a bit like an Asian species that is an occasional nursery weed in Florida and South Carolina. I finally figured out that its name is Viola inconspicua. I have no idea how cold-hardy it is, but it is very hardy in the sense of being tough.

Hi! Thank you! I love to look at violets. I wouldn't rule it out. I think Viola inconspicua is very similar! https://florida.plantatlas.usf...

https://people.ohio.edu/ballar...

I'll share more info on my notes regarding the possibly of this being a hybrid:
In 2018, I had posted several photos of my violet to the Ask the Botanist feature at GoBotany.org (Native Plant Trust, formerly NE wildflower society) in order to help identify my plant. They replied that this was likely a hybrid with the arrowhead shape likely from V. sagittata and the cordate base likely from V. sororia or V. cucullata, etc. These species are known from my area and the first two grow wild on my land. On their website, they note "Viola sagittata var. ovata) is present in all New England states, while the other (V. sagittata var. sagittata) is found only in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, and is rare. Various hybrids of arrowhead violet occasionally occur."
https://gobotany.nativeplanttr...
Also, I discovered this reference:
"Variety sagittata reportedly hybridizes with V. cucullata (= V. ×porteriana Pollard), V. hirsutula (= V. ×redacta House), V. pedatifida var. brittoniana (= V. ×mulfordiae Pollard), V. sagittata var. ovata (= V. ×abundans House), and V. sororia var. sororia (= V. ×conjugens Greene)." http://floranorthamerica.org/V...

Last night I noticed in the Gobotany database another intriguing arrowhead violet called "New England violet": Viola novae-angliae (aka Viola sororia Willd. var. novae-angliae ). It occurs on rivershore outcrops primarily in northern and central ME. Here is a link:
https://gobotany.nativeplanttr.... New England violet is not known in New England except some Maine counties and is also is found in Canada and some northern states such as Minnesota. See:
https://www.minnesotawildflowe...

Some views of my viola from my garden.



Some leaves are very long!

I love violets too, espeically the fun hybrids. Havent found any interesting ones at local nurseries yet.

I've posted a few photos to the database, but here is another for comparison:



Longsepal Violet (Viola inconspicua)

scvirginia said:I've posted a few photos to the database, but here is another for comparison:



Longsepal Violet (Viola inconspicua)

Thank you so much!

So pretty! I see it is being investigated for medicinal purposes for its' antibiotic potential!

" Viola "inconspicua" No More: An Analysis of Antibacterial Cyclotides"
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.10...

As I now believe you correctly identified my species vs. it being a New England hybrid, I'll send a note, links and photos to the native plant trust and cooperative extension service regarding naturalization potential.

Many thanks! You made my day!
Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. :)

Have a wonderful day!

Paintedtrillium said:

Thank you so much!

So pretty! I see it is being investigated for medicinal purposes for its' antibiotic potential!

" Viola "inconspicua" No More: An Analysis of Antibacterial Cyclotides"
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.10...

As I now believe you correctly identified my species vs. it being a New England hybrid, I updated my photo caption and added photos to the iNaturalist app for additional global citizen-botanist verification. Here is a link to photos that people have observed an uploaded.

https://www.inaturalist.org/ta...

I am concerned about naturalization since it is a prolific seed producer and easily adapted to the Maine coastal climate, etc. (Unfortunately, I am too late to collect yesterday's seedpod).

Many thanks! You made my day!
Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. :)

Have a wonderful day!

Please let us know what you hear from the iNaturalist folks.

I think your concerns about naturalizing are warranted, especially if it has survived a Maine winter or two...

Confirmed that it is "Long Sepal Violet" viola inconspicua

I also heard from a botanist who would like a plant for a botanical collection. Unfortunately, due to a harsh winter with little snow cover, I am unable to supply a plant. I am hoping one of the seeds survived. Might you be able to assist him with this?

scvirginia said: Please let us know what you hear from the iNaturalist folks.

I think your concerns about naturalizing are warranted, especially if it has survived a Maine winter or two...

PS There is a scientific study shared in the National Library of Medicine on this species:
"Viola "inconspicua" No More: An Analysis of Antibacterial Cyclotides"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...

Relocated to correct entry.

Paintedtrillium said: Confirmed that it is "Long Sepal Violet" viola inconspicua

I also heard from a botanist who would like a plant for a botanical collection. Unfortunately, due to a harsh winter with little snow cover, I am unable to supply a plant. I am hoping one of the seeds survived. Might you be able to assist him with this?

Why do I have a feeling you haven't really seen the last of this violet?

I can keep an eye out for seeds, if you like, and send you a tree-mail if I can help.

scvirginia said: Why do I have a feeling you haven't really seen the last of this violet?

I can keep an eye out for seeds, if you like, and send you a tree-mail if I can help.

Thank you for the offer of seeds! I appreciate that! I sent you a direct email but also wanted to add the following to this post:

To anyone growing this as an introduced plant, a botanist with a specialist interest in violets would like to hear from you! He is collaborating with international botanists on "a big manuscript of all the introduced violets around the world." He adds: "If you know of anybody else who has it on their property, I'd love to get their contact information as well."
Here is a link with his info and I also can supply direct contact info if you tree-mail me.
https://www.inaturalist.org/pe...

Here is further info on this plant with some photos and occurrences in the United States including a reference to mine. https://people.ohio.edu/ballar...

Since his contact with me, he published an award winning monograph of violets per https://www.ohio.edu/news/2023...

Paintedtrillium said: Thank you for the offer of seeds! I appreciate that! I sent you a direct email but also wanted to add the following to this post:

To anyone growing this as an introduced plant, a botanist with a specialist interest in violets would like to hear from you! He is collaborating with international botanists on "a big manuscript of all the introduced violets around the world." He adds: "If you know of anybody else who has it on their property, I'd love to get their contact information as well."
Here is a link with his info and I also can supply direct contact info if you tree-mail me.
https://www.inaturalist.org/pe...

Here is further info on this plant with some photos and occurrences in the United States including a reference to mine. https://people.ohio.edu/ballar...

Since his contact with me, he published an award winning monograph of violets per https://www.ohio.edu/news/2023...

and has many other publications
https://www.researchgate.net/p...