I have a weed in my yard that I’m quite fond of. It is blooming now. It’s a common wild blue violet. I never planted violets and have no idea how they made it to my yard, but I’m glad they did. There is no flower more lovely.
Wild violets have heart-shaped leaves with purple-blue flowers. Though they are classified as annuals, they often self-seed, coming back each year in different locations.
The low flowers on the plant do not open, but instead produce and hold seeds, allowing the plant to readily reproduce. The only downside to this is the fact that wild violets have a tendency to become invasive, popping up nearly everywhere, if not controlled with some type of barrier.
Avid gardeners say that learning to grow violet flowers is easy. In fact, they pretty much take care of themselves.
Those choosing to grow wild violets can divide established plants in spring or fall, though their self-seeding capabilities make this unnecessary. Seeds can also be collected and then sown in fall either indoors or in a cold frame. Wild violet plants are not usually affected by many problems; however, their foliage is occasionally affected by spider mites in dry weather.
Another interesting aspect of wild violets – they are both edible and nutritious. The leaves are high in vitamins A. and C and can be eaten raw. The flowers can be made into jelly and candy.
What a neat and beautiful “weed.”
