Types of Violets
Violets are the small heart-leaved wildflowers that carpet lawns and woodland floors in spring, in purple, blue, white and yellow. Many are edible and all are tougher than they look, spreading quietly through gardens. Here are the violets in the Huck field guide, with how to identify each.
9 violets in the Huck field guide. Tap any one for identification, habitat, diet, and a live sightings map.
Not sure which violet you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot, and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Are wild violets edible?
The flowers and young leaves of common blue violet and many of its relatives are edible and have long been used in salads and as a garnish, though the roots and seeds of some can upset the stomach. As with any wild plant, be sure of the identification first.
How do I get rid of or keep violets in my lawn?
That depends on your view of them. Many people treat wild violets as a weed because they spread fast and resist pulling, while others welcome them as a native groundcover and early food for pollinators like the fritillary butterflies whose caterpillars eat only violets.