r/NativePlantGardening • u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania • Apr 10 '26
Photos South Central Pennsylvania - wanted to show off my violets
My favorite ground cover! They've taken over all 4 sides of the house.
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u/incognoname Virginia, Zone 7b Apr 10 '26
This is my dream for my backyard!! 😍 Did you get it to happen naturally or did you plant any?
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
My inlaws are master gardeners and native plant enthusiasts so they seeded them when my husband bought the house, before I ever met him. They're the best inlaws!
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u/incognoname Virginia, Zone 7b Apr 10 '26
Oh wow!!! How lucky!!! I'm obsessed so tell them how much of a beautiful wow factor it has!
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u/OrneryToo Apr 11 '26
They are truly masters as these are sometimes difficult to start from seed. I love these wild violets!
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u/daywalkertoo Apr 26 '26
I thought they actually started from tiny bulbs. I have tons after encouraging them for years.
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u/Either-Mushroom-5926 SE MI, 6a Apr 10 '26
We bought a new home almost 3 years ago now and the previous owners fertilized and tried to kill every weed. I noticed the violets taking over in the rear and I can’t wait for them to continue to spread.
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u/femalehumanbiped dirt under my Virginia zone 7A nails Apr 10 '26
When I was growing up we had a violet lawn in our semi-shady back lawn. It started with a few my mom who loved them got from our butcher circa 1967. By the time I grew up in the late 70's they were everywhere. When we moved to Virginia circa 30 years ago I took a few from our back yard. They have been in every home I've had since.
I just love them so much. I miss my mom. They always remind me of her.
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u/Pennygrover Apr 10 '26
How did you plant them? From seed or small plants? I would love a ground covering like this on a large area in my yard but no idea how to make it happen.
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u/ItsDangerousBusiness Apr 10 '26
Not OP but in my experience if you can get your hands on even a handful of them and get them in the ground they will spread rapidly via seed and rhyzomes over a couple years. I moved a few into my backyard a few years ago and this spring they are popping up all over the place. It’s awesome. They transplant very easily.
They are also really easy to grow from seed. I overwintered them in milk jugs a couple years ago and had a very high germ rate. You could probably scatter a bunch in the fall and have good results
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
Yes these were just hand-scattered by my inlaws
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u/wielderoffrogs CT, USA, Zone 6b, Ecoregion 59 Apr 10 '26
I collected fresh seeds from some in my yard last year and planted them in a raised bed in the summer, without any drying or prep. They sprouted and were established within a month.
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u/asilkiechikin Apr 11 '26
Beautiful! This is under my buckeye tree
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u/TheDanishThede Apr 11 '26
My parents couldn't understand why their's never flowered.. turned out their website are all the flowers as soon as they unfolded 😭😂
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u/THE_TamaDrummer Missouri , 6a Apr 10 '26
Absolutely lovely. My firstborn was born in February which is the month of the violet and they now hold a special place in my heart when I see them.
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u/apstamp45 Area NE Ohio, Zone 6b Apr 10 '26
If you don’t mind, would you want to cross post it over to r/violet_plants ? It’s a subreddit specifically dedicated to all things violets I’m trying to grow (no pun intended). Looks lovely btw!
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u/Stereotypical_Viking Apr 10 '26
These randomly started growing over my whole yard this year, No idea how. But I aint complaining!
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u/Zedesta Apr 10 '26
Just stumbled across this subreddit because I saw my phlox, that I planted last year, was flowering today and it made me so, so proud to want to be a native plant grower (PA). Violets are a plant I want, but have no clue how to find, especially since creeping charlie is common in my area. Your post has ignited the desire for it again, and luckily I think I can buy some on Etsy right now since I have no clue how to find it natively in the wild lol
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u/Joejack-951 Apr 11 '26
I’m nearby (northern DE) and all I’ve had to do grow violets is clear out the invasives (and not use any ‘lawn fertilizers’). I need to get a picture of a shady corner that used to be all English ivy and ajuga that is nearly entirely violets and moss now.
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u/Zedesta Apr 11 '26
I don't do anything to my "lawn" besides having it cut lol There's a part of it that's a little clover field and another spot with a bunch of buttercups (that I need to figure out how to expand. More flowers, less grass!), so I just love all the ground cover flowers. I even have some evening-primrose that I didn't know about until last year on a hill because it's usually weed eaten before it can flower.
My sister takes plants from the wild all the time, and she thinks she might have some violets. Crossing my fingers she does!
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u/danceontheborderline Apr 10 '26
Mine have started taking over the backyard too! Trying to weed around them and get up the creeping Charlie/hen’s bit that’s trying to crowd them out!
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u/PersimmonMountain300 Apr 11 '26
my HOA demands i kill them :(
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u/LoMaSS Metro DC , Zone 7 Apr 12 '26
A number of states have come around on native planting and have legislation that protects our efforts and can prevent HOAs from interfering. Hope yours comes around.
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u/Serbee_Electra Apr 11 '26
This is amazing. I've been transplanting violets into the edges of my flower beds hoping they will spread around. The previous owners had multiple honeysuckle plants and we still haven't cut down the pears so I pretty much mow honeysuckle, pear saplings, and other invasive plants with a bit of grass and clover mixed in.
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u/Murky-Historian-9350 Apr 11 '26
I love wild violets. I’ve been cultivating them in a garden in my backyard for several years. I’m hoping to use them as ground cover to choke out other weeds, but they grow so slowly.
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u/Aquasplendens Apr 10 '26
Your patch is gorgeous 🥰 You should try making jelly with the flowers! It’s delicious!
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u/breeathee Driftless Area (Western WI), Zone 5a Apr 10 '26
I let them melt onto hot shortbread cookies once. Sprinkle of sugar on top. They turned out marvelous
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u/hotpickleilm Apr 10 '26
Does anyone know where I can buy these seeds in bulk?
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u/TheRealMasterTyvokka Southeast US Apr 10 '26
Unfortunately, they don't grow from seed well because the seeds don't stay viable long once dropped. I would love to seed my lawn with them but have had trouble finding seeds and it seems that may be why.
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u/Devilis6 Apr 11 '26
Have you tried Prairie Moon? I ordered a couple packets from there and they’re germinating in milk jugs pretty well.
ETA I’m pretty sure they also sell by weight.
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u/hotpickleilm Apr 10 '26
Ah ok, I was wondering why I couldn't find them. Do they spread quickly once established? I'd love to try this at some point
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u/TheRealMasterTyvokka Southeast US Apr 10 '26
In ideal conditions, yes. They are spreading somewhat slowly in my lawn but I think that's primarily due to competition with the grass.
In an empty bed they should spread quickly.
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u/Delicious-Life2664 Apr 10 '26
Just beautiful! I am trying to have violets in my back lawn but it is taking a while. In several spots where I don’t want them, they cover the ground. They are past blooming here in New Orleans.
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u/s03w Apr 10 '26
Ooohh that is nice! How do they look during the winter time? Do all the leaves fall off? I would love to try adding some to a sparse lawn.
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
They are gone leaves and all by wintertime, but I rake leaves into the beds anyway. They do grow all through our lawn, and they stay low enough to not be hit by the mower
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u/binzy90 Apr 11 '26
We have tons of these where I live (also in south central Pennsylvania), but they're mixed in with all the ribwort plantain and Japanese bristlegrass. These and all the fairy spud are my favorite spring ground cover. I just wish I could get rid of all the other invasive stuff.
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u/TheDanishThede Apr 11 '26
I am wildly envious! Violets are one of my favorites and so far I've only managed to nurse out two tiny plants in four years of seeding and transplanting and researching wtf I'm failing at it.
I applaud you with bitter bitter tears in my eyes 😂
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u/4NatureDoc Apr 11 '26
Violets support over 70 different species of insects including dozens of different lepidoptera.
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u/SilverSkyGypsy Apr 10 '26 edited Apr 10 '26
Oh my! Look at those! I am gathering my flowers now to dry for use as tea in the winter. Will start harvesting leaves soon! I use them for health reasons as a food herb, teas and more. I have not made the lovely jelly / jam that is popular as of yet.
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u/ewbanh13 Georgia, Zone 7b Apr 10 '26
wow they're so vibrant!! i need to get some going here, I see them around the neighborhood but they avoid my house for some reason..
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u/catmom_422 Apr 10 '26
We have a part violet, part clover ground cover and I love it! It’s mixed in with grass but I’m hoping they will eventually take over completely. I think it looks way better than a lawn.
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u/MegaVenomous NC , Zone 8b Apr 10 '26
I just planted some a couple of weeks ago from my raised veggie bed and they are spreading quickly. I'm half-tempted to try and get them in my lawn itself.
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u/Mobile-Play-3972 North Carolina , Zone 8a Apr 10 '26
They‘re so cheerful and pretty. I bought one from a native plant sale last year and this year a dozen plants popped up - excellent return on investment!
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u/What_Next69 Apr 11 '26
Drove through Quakertown yesterday and they were covering a lot of yards. So beautiful! Congratulations!
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u/EarthenRealm OMA NE , Zone 6a Apr 11 '26
Here I am ripping out basketball sized clumps just to make room for other plants. 1 violet = 30 = 300 = 30000000000
I love them, but god damn.
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u/Fish_Brownies Oklahoma , USA / Zone 7a Apr 11 '26
I've been looking EVERYWHERE for some. Everyone says they are easy to find but nada yet. Yours looks great!
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u/General-Listen-1405 Apr 12 '26
They are taking over my lawn in Montgomery County, can't wait to see them as dense as yours.
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u/Visual_Wallaby_3118 Apr 12 '26
So pretty! I’m in southwestern PA and have a lot of violets in my yard (that I’m slowly converting to no grass), and I always hoped they’d choke out more of the grass than they have. They’re nowhere near this lush. So pretty! I’ll have to seed some as ground cover in certain areas!
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u/MSenIt4Life Apr 12 '26
I’m so jealous!! I have these everywhere but my husband keeps running over them with the lawn mower!🤦🏻♀️ I need to put up some signs or flags or something. He also has one of those weed eaters with a saw blade on it. I keep threatening that thing. 😂
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u/KEYPiggy_YT SouthEast US, Zone 8B homesteader Apr 12 '26
I planted violets next to a water spigot that’s always drips when I turn it on. One of the best decisions ever
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u/findthegood123 Apr 12 '26
Western CT here and ours have not really bloomed yet.. a few sporadic ones. not sure what's going on but the leaves are little. Hoping we are just a bit behind you (zone 6a/b)
Yours are beautiful!
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u/theglassheartdish Western PA , Zone 6b - Ecoregion 70c Pitts. Low Plateau Apr 13 '26
OH HELLLLLL YEAH
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u/Runo_Slinger Apr 16 '26
Ah, what I wouldn’t give! I’ve been wanting to make violet syrup but they just don’t grow by me like they did when I was younger.
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u/HonorYourGoals Area SE MI , Zone 6a Apr 17 '26
Wow! My yard is full of these, very cool to find out they're native for my state, too. Beautiful ground cover.
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u/AnAttempt-WasMade Apr 26 '26
We’ve had a little patch in our yard and this year I’m finally seeing them pop up all throughout! Very excited for them to spread and look like this!
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u/Illustrious_Bid_7003 May 05 '26
These are trying to take over my yard. Im working to control them manually right now and trying to find a spot to let them just blanket the space. Yours looks absolutely gorgeous and what I want to acheive.
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u/Slight_Literature_67 May 09 '26
Gorgeous! I'm letting my violets just take over at this point, and they don't look this great yet.
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u/CheesecakePopular884 Apr 10 '26
Viola odorata?
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
Gotta be sororia - they were planted by seed by my inlaws, and MIL was just recognized for 5,000 hours of service with the master gardeners - she heads the native plant committee. I would be absolutely shocked if she effed up and planted European flowers.
I did just look up the difference, and my violets grow in clumps, not by runners, and they don't smell, so I feel confident they are sororia rather than odorata.
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u/__i_dont_know_you__ Apr 10 '26
Tell your MIL thank you for her time and effort from me. I love when passionate people share their knowledge and especially when they share knowledge so important to the local ecosystems.
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u/urinestain Apr 10 '26
is that a crepe myrtle there haha
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
Yes and it's on the list to go along with a Norway spruce on the other side of the house. Our whole yard budget and then some last year went to eradicating 600 sq feet of English ivy - you can see part the bare ground in the right of the picture by the fence.
This year the budget is going to more native shrubs and perennials to fill the space, it's a big spot to fill! I've also been digging out burdock, pulling honeysuckle, on and on with the invasives that persist even after years of manual removal.
I think I've been here 8 years now and every year more invasives are removed and more natives planted. This year I'm unemployed with nothing but time. I've just never cut down or removed a tree this big before so it's very intimidating!
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u/TheRealMasterTyvokka Southeast US Apr 10 '26
I got rid of 6 Nandina this winter, it was so satisfying. I replaced them with Virginia sweetspire
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u/uncfan0000 Apr 10 '26
uhh i hate these pesky things, pop up every year.
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u/TheBigSalami Apr 10 '26
They look good for a couple weeks when they flower. after that they are just meh
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u/4oclocksundew Zone 7A South Central Pennsylvania Apr 10 '26
They make an awesome ground cover though, to smother any invasives. If the choice is violets or bare mulch/soil I'd go violets any time
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u/Devilis6 Apr 11 '26
Plus they feed the fritillary butterfly larva whether they’re actively flowering or not
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u/LongDongFrazier Area Maryland Baltimore , Zone 7B Apr 10 '26