Violets (genus Viola) are seriously underrated native plants! Many folks consider them a weed in their lawn, and put lots of effort and energy into eradicating them. However, violets are actually a good, valuable plant for wildlife. They support over 30 species of native caterpillar (butterfly or moth species) in my area, which is the 5th most for herbaceous plants here!
They support more caterpillar species than some trees do, including Tulip Poplar, Sassafras, and Pawpaw! They also support the Violet Miner bee (Andrena violae) – a specialist bee who needs the flower’s nectar and pollen to raise its young.
If you have violets growing in your yard or lawn, let them grow and spread!
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do you have any of these growing in your yard or lawn these are violets and Native species of violets in my area Support over 30 species of butterflies and moths who eat the leaves as caterpillars they support more species of caterpillars than a tulip tree yes these little overlooked native violets are the fifth most valuable herbaceous plant in my area according to the research of Dr Doug talami unfortunately a lot of folks view violets as a weed or a threat to their lawn so many people will spray them or dig them up but if you just let them grow and flower you’ll be helping to support Wild life with very little effort not to mention they are quite beautiful take a second and look closely at them especially at the flowers if you plant them in garden beds or allow them to grow to their full potential they can become quite floriferous their flowers also support a specialist bee called The Violet Miner bee who needs these flowers to survive and the flowers are also edible for us there are over 150 species of violets found in North America so instead of assuming these are weeds try to identify which ones are growing on your property and see if they’re native to your area if they are consider letting them grow
26 Comments
Boomers think these are weeds…I can't wait till they're all gone
I am so incredibly jealous that all my neighbors have violets except for me– working on it!!
The perfect color
Oof. I just mowed a bunch of them today…
I Love violets! I dream of a yard carpeted by them in the spring 🙏 how beautiful
Ive been applying jadam microbial solution to my lawn 1/4 acre front and back and mulching when i cut using leaves and grass in the many bare spots that wer there….there are so many native violets and fleabane, clovers, this that the other…cant stop wont stop
Can you tell the difference between viola sororia and viola odorata?
I love violets and plant them in shady areas. I have wonderful memories of seeing them on woods walks with my grandmother.
They make a beautiful groundcover in shady areas.
Yes, they started to appear this year. I hope they expand next year.
Had an argument with me aunt over them. I suggested violets to my uncle for a turf-replacement groundcover (at least in part), and she chastised me for recommending spreading weeds around. Didn't apologize or even acknowledge she was in error when I pointed her to extension programs advocating their use.
We have sooooo many violets in our yard. They are lovely! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
They are beautiful, please don’t destroy them 🫣
I do!
Woah thanks for letting us know, ive got so many round my place and a beautiful white violet of a different species
Yes, I do! I think they are lovely and have the most beautiful leaves. Violets have a wonderful scent as well. One of my favorites.
No
I love your stuff thank you for being you
Wait….some violets are yellow?
Awesome! I have been saving them from where we have been planting wild hydrangeas and planting them around our yard. I would love more of these specialist pollinator videos as I am trying to incorporate some more specialist plants in my native lanescaping!
I would love to see more content like this, thank you for sharing
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Found a yellow one in the woods and thought i found something special lol
I infused the flowers into some vodka as it was awesome.
Thats right eat the flowers but replace them as you go.. enjoy. Very healthy too ..
i have so many of these overtaking my property. i was so relieved to find they were native. i love them and i am so happy to see them everywhere. do you think you could talk about native pussytoes? they randomly began growing at the edge of my garden. i let them grow and they overtook almost the entire border. i just transplanted them around my property in hopes to get them to multiply.
I adore them most of my back yard is full of them mainly the white kind