Wild violets in the garden: why it is important to let them grow freely
Violets, known as sweet violets (V. odorata), are amongst the most commonly found plants growing "in the wild" in areas with a temperate climate: violets can be found growing in lawns, flowerbeds and even in flower pots in the garden. They grow quickly, and from the end of winter they signal the arrival of spring by putting out adorable purple flowers, which are also edible. They are often treated like weeds, but in reality, it's a good thing to welcome violets into our gardens.
The benefits of having violets in the garden
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Violets do not require caring for: their persistance is proof of this. Even where you weed them out, they often appear again the following year. They prefer areas in partial shade, but can adapt to most conditions and all types of soil - sometimes they even grow in the cracks of paved areas or walls.
You don't have to worry about watering them, they don't require fertilization, nor do they need pruning or any special kind of care at all. At most, all you'll need to do is to act to contain growth/spreading.
Why do many remove violets from their gardens?
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Anyone who has had violets in the garden knows that they can grow like weeds (ie. fast and wide-spread). They are also evergreen plants, so are highly visible at all times of the year. They usually lose their flowers at the end of spring, but the heart-shaped leaves remain, creating spongy, green cushions.
Their hardiness means that they are also able to overwhelm many other plant species, especially non-endemic or wild plants. Violets "steal" space, and suffocate the growth of other plants, which is why most gardeners treat them like weeds and remove them.
That said, violets can be beneficial for your garden.
Why keep violets in the garden?
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There are a number of reasons why you should consider letting violets grow freely in your garden:
- Their "invasiveness" can be exploited: given the ease in which they create green "carpets", they are the best choice for places in the garden where the lawn does not grow very well (shade, soil that is too acidic due to pine needles falling there, etc.), and they also excellent ground covers for filling the spaces between paving stones, for example.
- Reduction of management costs: you don't need to water or cut the lawn where violets are growing. You don't have to spend money on fertilizers or struggle to keep weeds at bay, because your violets will have already take care of this!
- They attract pollinating insects: violet flowers are very attractive for bees, butterflies and all pollinating insects! And they put out their flowers itat a time of year when it is difficult for these insects to find sustenance.
- As mentioned, the flowers of violets are edible. These flowers can be turned into candies or added to sweet and savory dishes.
