The purple violet is a low-growing perennialherbaceous plant up to 20 cm (8 in) tall. The leaves form a basal cluster; they are simple, up to 10 cm (4 in) broad, with an entire margin and a long petiole. The flowers are violet, dark blue and occasionally white. with five petals. The fruit is a capsule 10–15 mm (3⁄8–5⁄8 in) long, which splits into three sections at maturity to release the numerous small seeds.[3] Its habitats include wet meadows, prairies, and fields.[4]