VIOLETS

WHAT THAT WEED? SERIES

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?   

• Low growing plants with heart-shaped leaves and five-petalled flowers.
• Flowers are usually purple, but can also be white.
• Often grow in CLUMPS. 

ARE PERENNIAL VIOLETS A PROBLEM?  

YES 

• Spread with enthusiasm.
• Not as aggressive as most problem weeds, BUT will compete with other plants.
• Get into lawns.
• Are difficult to get rid of. 

NO 

• Are a useful groundcover plant. 
• Have pretty flowers and a lovely scent.
• Are a GOOD early flower for POLLINATORS.
• FLOWERS and LEAVES are edible –can be added to salads, and leaves can be cooked like spinach.
• Can be worn in a wreath around the neck to prevent drunkenness (though NOT scientifically proven) 

HOW DO THEY GROW?  

• Spread by SEEDS and also by short horizontal root runners. 
• Prefer SHADY, MOIST areas, but can spread to other areas. 

HOW TO DEAL WITH VIOLETS? 

• WEED unwanted violets – make sure to get ALL the roots!
• DO NOT let them start SPREADING where you don’t want them. 
• Large areas of unwanted violets can be covered with PLASTIC to kill them. 
• Maintain a HEALTHY lawn. 

Sources:
Parish, R., Coupe, R., and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Southern Interior British Columbia and the Inland Northwest, 1996.

Cornell University. Growing Guide, Sweet Violet.  www. gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenef803.html

Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook Page. Violets – Friend or Foe?

www.mgoi.ca/resources/Gardening-FAQs/Violets-Friend-or-Foe.pdf

Image:  Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC – Wiki Commons