Viola Species, Common Blue Violet, Hooded Blue Violet, Meadow Violet, Sister Violet

I love violets -- I started out with purple ones in my lawn, then some white ones appeared, and now I have patch of hybrid ones that are ...Read Morewhite with purple hearts -- I have moved some into my flower beds, and they are extremely well behaved there, they do spread but extremely slowly and are easy to control -- it's almost like they are so grateful to be there that they behave themselves! They also grow in places that are hard to mow, and keep out other weeds, so my husband loves them and encourages them grow along our rock wall so he doesn't have to weedwhack there . . . and even when they are not blooming they have beautiful foliage -- what's not to love about them??

Years ago my mother-in-law lived on the edge of a woodland and she moved wild violets from the woods into her lawn and they grew twice the size of the violets I have in my garden -- the leaves were huge and they formed clumps almost the size of hostas -- I'm wondering if those were a different type of wild violet? Is anyone familiar with those?

I admit that this plant is pretty and has benefits like providing a source of food to many animals, including as a host plant to species ...Read Moreof caterpillars, but I do find it annoying how it pops up everywhere, especially in my flower beds. You can't just pull it up because it has tuberous like roots that stubbornly anchor it to the ground, you need to pry it up and this becomes tiresome with all the many, many plants that pop up everywhere.

These are common in town, meadows, and woodlands in my area. I transplanted quite a few purple flowering violets from a field and into my...Read More flower bed many years ago and they've spread slowly but surely. They've been showing up in the lawn somehow, which I love, but I no longer enjoy them in my flower bed, so I've been digging them out and moving them into the lawn. In my flower bed they seem a bit too "casual" or "common" - like a somewhat attractive weed. In the lawn, however, they add some character (more "meadow" and less "golf course"). They are shorter than the height we mow so they look just beautiful dotting the green grass. This year I spotted a few white ones in the lawn as well.

I absolutely love these flowers. The dainty little blooms are early bloomers and look great around spring bulbs such as daffodils and tu...Read Morelips. According to the USDA, these flowers are considered a noxious weed in the eastern half of the United States. . However, they fill in the bare spots of the garden so nicely! After the blooms fade, the heart shaped leaves stay bright and robust. I have found that violets will flourish in full sun, provided they have daily moisture.

Blooms mid April to mid May in my yard ... a wild flower.

Botanica Encyclopedia: Viola septentrionalis (Northern Blue Violet.) This spring-flowering perennial from North America bears large flow...Read Moreers with a spur, in hues usually of bluish purple but sometimes white. The hairy green leaves are pointed and oval to heart-shaped and have toothed edges. The plant has creeping and suckering stems and grows 6-8" high and wide. Zones 7-10
Cultivation: Most of the cultivated Viola species will tolerate light frosts at least, and many are fully frost hardy. The more compact perennial species suit rock gardens where they do best in cooler, moister spots, while the more spreading species make effective ground covers beneath trees and taller shrubs, requiring little or no attention. Pansies and violas (Viola x wittrockiana) are grown as annuals or pot plants in full sun, but appreciate shelter from drying winds; sow seed in late winter or early spring, under glass if neccessary, planting out in late spring in soil that is well-drained but not too rich. Water well and feed sparingly as flowers develop. Propagate perennial species by division or from cuttings.

I love violets. They blanket the ground in the forest preserve and also grow wild behind my house. I took several from behind my house ...Read Moreand planted them in my tree box. They spread, but they are controllable. Where my mom has removed them, they haven't come back. They like a lot of shade. Mine seem to like a bit more water than average, also.

Viola sororia is a beautiful native..... New jersey's state flower..... Purple flowers atop attractive heart shaped foliage..... very cu...Read Moret and endearing look overall....... evergreen or partially evergreen in some zones..... easy to grow.... considered a weed by some...... makes a good ground cover and general garden plant where pretty blossoms., shade tolerance, US nativity, short stature and larvae for butterflies are desired...... like many native violas provides forage for native butterflies (their larvae)...... Hates to really dry out and be in fulll sun....... :)

Great ground cover in deep shaded areas. Blossom is edible with a slight peppery flavor, decorative on early summer dishes.