Restoring Midwestern Viola species for regal fritillary butterfly recovery

Several Viola species found in tallgrass prairies of the Midwestern US are larval host plants to regal fritillary butterflies. Working from The Nature Conservancy preserves in Missouri and Indiana, we describe 2 methods of obtaining Viola seeds while producing plants for outplanting and for on-site seed increase production plots for upland and wetland Viola species that occur in the Midwestern US. We incorporate these important species into tallgrass prairie restoration projects that ultimately benefit regal fritillary butterflies.