Common Blue Violet (viola sororia), the most common violet in the North America. The flowers and young leaves are edible. The roots are poisonous. The violet comes out in early spring.

The flowers are edible and I have seen them candied and used on cakes. The flowers are a source for vitamin C and can be dried for tea.

What I found surprising is the young leaves (the snails love the leaves too). They have a mild nutty flavor and are a source of vitamin A and C—mature leaves are bitter. We eat the leaves raw in the spring and fall in salads or smoothies. We also add them to omelets, quiche, soup, and pasta.