Is Viola odorata invasive?
The fragrant sweet violet, Viola odorata, is often accused of the invasive crimes of its wild relative, but it is a European import, although widely naturalized, while the common wild blue violet, now known as Viola sororia, is a North American native.
Are blue violets invasive?
The fragrant sweet violet, Viola odorata, is often accused of the invasive crimes of its wild relative, but it is a European import, although widely naturalized, while the common wild blue violet, now known as Viola sororia, is a North American native. To complicate identification even further, some of the species cross-breed freely.
What is viola used for in the garden?
In the garden, it is often used as an edging plant or as a filler. Viola sororia: widely known as the wild blue violet, it is native to wooded areas and often finds its way to cultivated gardens and turf lawns where it is usually regarded as a weed—unless deliberately encouraged in native woodland gardens.
What is the difference between a viola and a violet?
The terms viola and violet are normally reserved for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the wild species. Violets are native to cold northern areas, but grow surprisingly well in the south, with deep purplish green leaves and lavender colored flowers.
Do violas spread?
Violas are often called Johnny jump-ups in the US, as they tend to self-seed and can spread throughout your garden on their own.
How do you get rid of violas?
How To Get Rid of Wild VioletsChemical weed killers: The most effective way to kill wild violets is by applying a broadleaf herbicide. ... Hand weeding: Pulling up wild violets by hand may be labor-intensive, but it is also the least harmful way to rid your yard of these plants.More items...•
Are purple violets invasive?
While pretty, these iconic wild violets are also an aggressive and invasive weed. They've been known to take over yards and flower beds with no concern for whatever landscaping plans the homeowner originally had in mind.
Is Viola cornuta invasive?
Viola cornuta (Photo: Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardener) This invasive nature makes it an excellent groundcover or a wildflower in a naturalized site. Sweet violets have also been planted for as long as gardens have existed.
How do I get rid of Viola in my yard?
Fall is the best time of year to control the wild violets. It's a perennial weed with a long tap root on it. Use a broadleaf killer that contains 2,4-D or Dicamba, and it will selectively kill the violets without damaging the grass. Another great wild violet herbicide is called Drive (quinclorac).
Do violets choke out other plants?
A few violets are pretty and charming. A lawn full of them may lose its charm rapidly, and some mature specimens will develop fleshy above-ground rhizomes that choke out any other plants, especially grass.
Is Viola a good ground cover?
LANDSCAPE USES: Viola sororia is a worthy Groundcover for the Shade Garden or Rock Garden. Plants provide Showy Blooms and are appropriate for Containers, Cottage Gardens, Deer Resistant Plantings, Low Maintenance Plantings and Perennial Borders.
Are pansies invasive?
Pansies and Violas Tips These plants grow rapidly and can be invasive. Pansies often are used to provide mass color for borders and edgings and as cover for spring-flowering bulbs.
Are blue violets invasive?
Although it will grow in clay, it thrives in moist, loamy ground and can become invasive. In the rich, moist soil of our front flowerbeds, clumps of common violets often emerge in unwanted places: among the roots of other herbaceous emergents, between the stone edging, and around rosebush canes.
Do violas come back every year?
Violas will come up every year if you look after the soil and keep it moist at the beginning of fall. Violas are winter growers so when the weather warms up the leaves or even the whole plant will die off.
What is the difference between pansies and violas?
You can tell the difference between pansies and violas by looking at the number of petals. If the bloom has four petals pointing upward, and one petal pointing downward, it is a pansy. If the flower has two petals pointing upward and three pointing downward, it is a viola.
Do violas self seed?
Viola 'Heartsease' is a delightful wild flower, bearing many small blooms variably patterned with purple, lavender and yellow, throughout summer. Plants self-seed freely and look charming allowed to naturalise through a border, wild garden or in woodland clearings.
Will violas come back?
Violas will come up every year if you look after the soil and keep it moist at the beginning of fall. Violas are winter growers so when the weather warms up the leaves or even the whole plant will die off.
How far do violas spread?
How to care for violasFlowering season(s)Spring, Summer, Autumn, WinterSoil moistureMoist but well-drainedUltimate height15-23cm (6-9in)Ultimate spread15-23cm (6-9in)Time to ultimate height3-4 months4 more rows
How do I get rid of small purple flowers in my lawn?
To get rid of purple flowers called deadnettle by contending with it before it drops its seeds. Like other members of the mint family, purple deadnettle is a fast-spreading weed. You can best eradicate purple deadnettle and similar weeds using a post-emergent weed herbicide before these weeds take up your entire lawn.
What is the difference between violas and pansies?
You can tell the difference between pansies and violas by looking at the number of petals. If the bloom has four petals pointing upward, and one petal pointing downward, it is a pansy. If the flower has two petals pointing upward and three pointing downward, it is a viola.
What is a viola?
Viola is a genus containing 500 to 600 species, not to mention various hybrids, and cultivars including pansies and Johnny-jump-ups. In horticulture the term pansy is normally used for the multi-colored, large-flowered cultivars raised annually or biennially from seed and used extensively in garden beds. The terms viola and violet are normally reserved for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the wild species. Violets are native to cold northern areas, but grow surprisingly well in the south, with deep purplish green leaves and lavender colored flowers.
Where do violets grow?
The terms viola and violet are normally reserved for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the wild species. Violets are native to cold northern areas, but grow surprisingly well in the south, with deep purplish green leaves and lavender colored flowers.
How do violets spread?
The plant can also spread by root division from its rhizomes. The leaves and flowers grow on separate stems arising from the a basal crown on long petioles. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: In general, there are no known diseases or insect problems common to violets.
What are violet leaves?
Violet leaves are high in Vitamin C and can be used in salads or cooked. The flowers can be made into candies or jellies.
When do violets bloom?
In general, violets are an herbaceous, perennial flowering plant with leaves and flowers emerging on separate stems from rhizomes from March to June. it is a low growing (5 to 7 inches high), mounding, vigorously spreading plant that can make life difficult for lawn enthusiasts.
Do violets have diseases?
In general, there are no known diseases or insect problems common to violets.
Does a viola plant attract butterflies?
This plant supports Fritillary butterfly larvae. Nectar from the flowers attracts butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Viola support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia. Caterpillars of fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage. This plant can attract small mammals and songbirds.
How do wild violets spread?
But. It spreads. While some varieties of violet spread by underground stolons, the wild violet's real secret weapon of propagation is by seed. And herein lies a strange tale. Many violet species, including the common wild violet, have two kinds of flowers. The first, normal [chasmogamous] flowers are the pretty ones we see in the spring. These are usually pollinated and set seed in the normal manner; this is how the wild violets hybridize with others. But later in summer, the violet develops a second kind of flower hidden under its leaves. These are called cleistogamous flowers, from the Greek for "hidden." They are unusual in that they never open. Inside the closed pod, the flower fertilizes itself with its own pollen. The seedpods are three-cornered and held together with a sort of springy hinge. In fall, the pods pop open, flinging hundreds of seeds far and wide, often many feet away. The next spring, a mature violet plant will be surrounded by a horde of its seedlings, but it is likely that some of them are also germinating in the lawn.
How big are violet flowers?
Whatever the color, the flowers are small, held on upright stems, and the entire plant is no more than six inches high.
What does a violet look like?
While there are a lot of fancy violet species and cultivars, many of them look pretty much alike, with heart-shaped leaves sprouting from a crown and flowers that look just about any other violet flower.
What is the best weapon to dig out violets?
My own weapon of choice is a paring knife. Violets are relatively easy to dig out of the ground. In spring, the flowers give the location of the plants away and make it easy to attack. It is vital to get the violets up and out of where they aren't wanted before the seedpods open.
What is the flower called that never opens?
But later in summer, the violet develops a second kind of flower hidden under its leaves. These are called cleistogamous flowers, from the Greek for "hidden.". They are unusual in that they never open. Inside the closed pod, the flower fertilizes itself with its own pollen.
Do you dig out violets in the lawn?
But most important is not to let them get started where you don't want them. If you don't want violets in the lawn, then dig them out as soon as you spot them there. A few violets are pretty and charming.
Is violet invasive in the lawn?
When I say that the common wild violet is a la wn invader, this doesn't mean it is non-invasive everywhere else but the lawn. I have it in my asparagus bed, where it is hard to dig out; I have it in my strawberry bed, where it is hard to find. It has successfully invaded the territory of the rudbeckia, and is issuing a challenge to the lily of the valley. But it seems to cause most trouble when it invades the grass.
Common Name (s)
Viola sororia, known as the common blue violet, is a stemless herbaceous perennial in the Violaceae family. Its showy flowers has led to it being named as state flower for several states. It appears in woods, thickets, and along streambeds, especially in shadier areas. It has glossy green heart-shaped leaves that emerge directly from the rhizomes.
Previously known as
Viola sororia, known as the common blue violet, is a stemless herbaceous perennial in the Violaceae family. Its showy flowers has led to it being named as state flower for several states. It appears in woods, thickets, and along streambeds, especially in shadier areas. It has glossy green heart-shaped leaves that emerge directly from the rhizomes.
Can you hand pull invasive plants?
And even a small fragment of root can result in a new plant, so hand-pulling is not an option for these invasive plants unless you do it repeatedly until the remaining roots use up their reserves. Treat existing plants with a post-emergent herbicide.
Is violet a weed?
Violets. Sometimes a “weed” is not necessarily a weed. Such is the case with wild violets ( Viola sororia ), which are a fine addition to a naturalistic garden. Mass them in woodland and wildflower gardens and enjoy.
How to identify wild violets?
Identifying Wild Violets. Wild violets are easily recognized by their low growth habit; waxy, heart-shaped leaves; and small lavender, white, or yellow flowers. The plants are commonly around 4 to 6 inches high, though they can grow taller in the right conditions.
How to pull violets?
Wear thick gardening gloves to protect your hands as you pull the violets. First, moisten the area thoroughly with a garden hose, and wait about a half hour. The water will loosen the soil and make it easier to pull the plants.
How to get rid of violets in my yard?
Add surfactant or a tablespoon of dish soap to the weed killer. The waxy leaves of wild violets can cause the herbicide to run off, but the surfactant will help it stick and be absorbed.
Why do wild violets bloom?
Because wild violets have pretty flowers that bloom early and often, not everyone regards this plant as a weed. Many homeowners choose to let these wildflowers grow in their lawns and elsewhere. There are several reasons for tolerating wild violets in the lawn: It makes for a low-maintenance lawn.
When to use herbicide on wild violets?
Using herbicide to eradicate wild violets is best undertaken in the fall. At this time, the herbicide will be transported down to the taproot as the plant stores nutrients for winter. Thus, you have a good chance of the herbicide killing the plant all the way down to ground level with a fall application.
Can wild violets be eaten?
It is conducive to natural landscape design, as wild violets are a native species. 2 . Wild violets are also edible weeds. Both the flowers and leaves can be eaten, and young leaves have a pleasant nutty taste. Plus, some people use wild violets medicinally.
Can violets spread to lawns?
These are perennial plants that spread both by rhizomes and by seeds. And lawns that are not well maintained are often colonized by spreads of violets. Shady areas of a lawn are especially susceptible to a wild violet takeover.
How do violets spread?
Violets spread by underground rhizomes and may form vegetative colonies. They also spread by seed. Flowers near the soil surface that never really open, called cleistogamous or non-opening, self-pollinating, shoot seeds out to establish a new colony away from the parent.
Is blue violet a good ground cover for Pennsylvania?
And yes, PA nurseries sell Common Blue Violets, you can find them in nurseries around the state. So consider including violets in landscapes, or just leaving them where they are doing well. This low-maintenance native groundcover is a benefit to landscapes and ecosystems alike.
Do violets have elaiosomes?
In addition to being aerodynamic, violet seeds have elaiosomes attached to them which are fatty deposits attractive to ants for food. The ant finds a seed, eats the nutritious coating then buries the seed. No wonder violets do so well in landscapes.
What is the purple viola called?
Even though the purple-tipped beauty above is called a Viola tricolor; you may call it a Johnny Jump-up, Wild Pansy, or even Heartsease if you want to. I call it pretty. Pictured here on the left is a variant that is definitely in the same family of little wild violas.
What is the purple tipped beauty called?
Even though the purple-tipped beauty above is called a Viola tri color; you may call it a Johnny Jump-up, Wild Pansy, or even Heartsease if you want to. I call it pretty.
Do violets like full sun?
My violets grow best in filtered sun or part shade. They do okay in full sun, but the leaves take on a yellower hue as if to say, "Please give us just a little shade." When I do, they thrive all the more.
Why do violets spread so quickly?
These violets spread so quickly because they're sneaky. They don't just develop seeds from the pretty, blue, purple, or white flowers you admire in spring. Most seeds come from weird, pale flowers resembling mung bean sprouts that hide at the soil line under the foliage.
Can you spray violets to kill them?
On a recent Grumpy Gardener page in Southern Living, I sadly broke terrible news to a reader whose lawn and garden was submerged with violets. There is no spray to kill violets, I said . The only control is getting down on your hands and knees and digging nonstop for approximately 18 years.
Is a dooryard violet invasive?
But common dooryard violets ( Viola sororia) are one other thing too. Extremely invasive. In the lawn or the garden. In the sun or the shade. If you see one this year, next year you'll see a dozen. Then a hundred. Then a thousand. Then a veritable sea of violets will fill your yard from shore to shore.
