It is that time of year when the wild violets are blooming like crazy so I figured it was a great time for a video on them!

The native violets, the Viola species, are an often overlooked and sometimes maligned group of colorful small perennials that have a wide range in eastern North America. Although considered weeds by many, the wild violets are a vital host plant to fritillary butterflies, support pollen specialist native bees, and are an excellent ground cover.

Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think.

Thanks for watching, Anthony

Another great video Anthony. Thanks!

I just love violets, and am so happy to see your video on them. I even dig them up if they are in harms way and transplant them in more protected areas .

I also like to see local nurseries offering them for sale at times.

Thank you for this fun video on such lovely flowers.

The wood violet (Viola sororia) is Wisconsin's state flower. Can't get enough!

Nice video!

Thanks everyone who gave it a watch!

Love the videos!

Thank you, Anthony T!

We have several species of native wild violets here. My favorite is Viola hirta, they're the first to appear in the spring, usually a bit after the Pulsatilla and before the spring vetch. I spare the few that grow as weeds in my garden.



When we were little kids, we were left to ourselves most of the time so we spent a lot of time in the woods. We were always looking for wild edible plants because it was during the Deficit times, and we discovered that violet seeds were edible (violets produce little box-like fruit with small seeds). They tasted really good and resembled walnuts or sesame seeds. Then one time we came across an area densely overgrown with violets and collected LOTS of those seeds. That's how we learned that those seeds are a powerful diuretic, too

Tatiana - great pics! The flowers and the leaves are also edible, although the taste can vary quite a bit with species. Good to know about the seeds. The genus viola is widespread in the northern hemisphere - there are a lot of species!