It inhabits moist meadows, marshes, and stream banks in northern parts of North America and Eurasia.

The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.

[3] Viola palustris is a 5 to 22 cm, glabrous herb with petioles and peduncles from slender rhizomes.

The cordate to reniform leaves are 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide with coarse, shallow, blunt teeth.

It is a known host for the pathogenic fungi Hendersonia violae and Puccinia fergussonii.