A Word About Violets

A few words about Violets.

Native violets are a joy to behold! They can be found in alpine meadows, lawns, woods, marshes. Wherever you live in North America, there is probably a violet adapted to your area. Almost all Violets will spread by seed, which can be produced in great quantity by some species. Some violets (such as Viola sororia & V. sororia pricaena) seed in readily & spread by thick rhizomes. Others, such as V. labradorica, spread gently by seed & delicate rhizomes. Still others (V. pubescens) produce no rhizomes at all. They are all, however, food plants for the caterpillars of several Fritillary butterflies including the large & beautiful Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)! They are also all important spring nectar sources for native bees including the Violet Miner (Andrena violae) which nectars only on violets.

If you would like to learn more about violets a visit to The American Violet Society web site is a good place to start.