From the Archives

The Great Violet Debate

Should it stay or should it go?

I was gabbing with a few gardenbloggers on Twitter the other night about, of all things, wild violets. It began with Mr. Brown Thumb sharing a photo of a violet and saying that he kind of feels bad about ripping them out. I related that I included wild violets in a post about weed control over at my About.com site, and was summarily told off by a reader defending them as pretty little plants. Eliz of Gardening While Intoxicated and Carol of May Dreams Gardens said that they leave them growing in selected areas. Kylee of Our Little Acre did them one better, sharing that she actually digs wild violets up from the woods near her house and plants them in her garden.

Here’s what I love about getting to know other gardeners a little better, whether in person or via something like Twitter: we can each look at the same plant and see something different. One person’s weed is another’s pretty little flower; some of us eradicate it on first sight while others transplant it lovingly.

I did confess that I have started to leave a few growing here and there. They look very pretty with the tulips and daffodils right now. I have a patch of them growing in the lawn near my raised bed vegetable gardens, and the original plan was to rip them out. But now, they’re blooming, smiling up at me with those happy little blossoms, and I can’t quite find it in me to get rid of them. It’s not like I’m a lawn person or anything, and since I’ve been known to rant about how silly it is to get rid of clover in the lawn, it seems a bit hypocritical of me to show prejudice against violets. They’re pretty, and a little wild, and I’m starting to see why a gardener might take the time to nurture them rather than destroy them.

What do you think of wild violets? Pretty little flower or obnoxious weed? Or maybe something in between?

11 comments

11 comments to “The Great Violet Debate”

Jenny, May 7th, 2009 at 9:53 am:

We’ve got them in our lawn, and I’m content to let them stay there–they get mowed with the rest of the lawn, but between mowings it’s nice to see them. I’m not going to take any care to preserve them, though.

Sarah, May 7th, 2009 at 10:16 am:

I love them in the lawn, and anywhere where nothing else will grow. I encourage them there. Can’t fault a tough little blue flower – gorgeous with the sun shining through it.

But I gather they can get into mischief if they escape into the wild. So people should be careful if their gardens with violets back onto wild areas, like ravines.

Colleen Vanderlinden, May 7th, 2009 at 10:24 am:

Jenny—Hi! That’s probably the same approach I’m going to take with the violets growing near my veggie garden. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’re doing well!

Sarah–They are tough little flowers—definitely have to respect them for that I hadn’t heard that about them being a anger to wild areas—something I’ll have to look into. Thank you for commenting!

Sande, May 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pm:

Very pretty. I used to have a lot all over the yard but got rid of most of them. Now I miss them.

Laura Z, May 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pm:

They’re so cute! I couldn’t take them out. Anything that does all the work by itself and then flowers without my help is appreciated in my garden.

Colleen Vanderlinden, May 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm:

Hi Sande,

They are actually quite pretty. I’m happy to have them blooming right now!
Thanks for stopping by!

Sheila, May 7th, 2009 at 2:54 pm:

Okay, here’s one better. I actually buy them here because they are not wild! I think they are the prettiest little plants imaginable and I wish they were more prolific here!

Carol, May Dreams Gardens, May 7th, 2009 at 3:21 pm:

Pretty little flower, but watch out for them that they don’t take over the whole garden, is how I view them, just like I view all those blacked eyed susan and aster seedlings.

LibrariAnne » rain, rain, come again, May 7th, 2009 at 4:57 pm:

[...] seen some posts lately about people’s opinions of violets – are they weedy and should be removed, or are they pretty and should be embraced? [...]

Chiot's Run, May 8th, 2009 at 4:57 am:

Like all “volunteers” it depends on where they’re growing. I have millions of these growing in my lawn & gardens. I let them grow in the lawn, but I dig them out of the garden. If left alone, they’ll take over everything here. They already have killed out sections of the lawn, but I don’t mind.

Michelle, May 14th, 2009 at 2:23 pm:

Hi…I’m new to your blog and like what I see. I did a search for “shade vegetable” and found you! I wanted to comment on the violets. I have a ton of them in my front yard…that I planted intentionally from rhizomes (bulbs?) shared from a friend’s mom. And I love them. They grow easily…cover the ground…and are so pretty. And as a matter of fact…when I get irrigation in the backyard under the pecan tree, I’ll transplant some there as well. I’m sure if I ever decide to tear out my front yard and do edible landscaping they would get on my nerves…but until then, I’ll leave them be.

I’ll be back again…your blog is great!

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From the Archives

The Great Violet Debate

11 comments

11 comments to “The Great Violet Debate”

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