Violets April 4, 2022

By Tulla Lightfoot

Violets April 4, 2022

Violets are usually abundant in the greenway, but this year they were slow to emerge and bloom.   Instead, the invasive Ficaria Verna, which has very similar heart-shaped leaves, popped up all over.  More commonly known as “lesser celandine”, “pilewort” or “fig buttercup”, this plant is POISONOUS to humans and livestock.  Several states list this plant as a “noxious weed” which means it can no longer be sold and used as an ornamental plant.  Native to Europe and western Asia, but introduced to showy gardens in America in the 1860, shoots of the fig buttercup can appear as early as January. This early bloomer, with pretty yellow flowers resembling buttercups, escaped and now thrives next to streams and along river banks in urban and suburban areas throughout the northeastern United States to Missouri, the northwestern states of Washington and Oregon, and Texas.

The first flowering fig buttercup I saw was on March 1^st on the side of a Greenway creek.  It’s a pretty plant, and since it emerges earlier than most of our native plants its flowers provide nectar for bees and other insects. Unfortunately, it will spread into a thick blanket and cover the forest floor, inhibiting the growth of our native plants like trillium and bloodroot.  Increased sunlight of early spring triggers the fig buttercup’s growth but temperature might also have an effect.  Before global warming, the yellow flowers formed from April to May – not on March! The flowers are followed by seeds or “bulblets” produced in late spring.  These seeds are easily carried by floodwater or spread by animals, but mostly the plants reproduce by tubers which makes them difficult to eradicate.  As the leaves of the trees shade the forest, the plant dies back and becomes dormant in summer, leaving patches of earth that other plants are able to colonize.   

The type of violet growing in the Greenway is called the “Common Blue Violet”; its scientific name is Viola sororia. This is the type most commonly found in forests of the eastern part of the United States, Canada and eastern Mexico. They are also found in parts of Australia, the Andes and South American and Hawaii. Common Blue Violet plants have flowers with hairy petals and white “throats”, and glossy, heart-shaped leaves. All Violas are happy to breed with closely related species. Because of this, there are over 400 types of violet plants in the world. The shape of the flower usually defines the plant’s species. They can be perennials, annuals or small shrubs.  

I spotted the first violet plant on Sunday, February 20, but once again it was growing under the powerline tower, so this one didn’t count.  By April 4th the plants were more noticeable, but not as dense as in past years possibly because of the competition they now face with the deadly Ficaria Verna plant.  That is too bad, because violets are lovely, edible and an important symbol of a new season and warmer weather, although considered by some to be an invasive weed that destroys the desired uniformity of a pristine lawn.  The showy purple or white flowers of the violet plants are pollinated and produce seeds. In addition, violets have a second set of nonedible, brown “flowers” that are not pollinated and grow either on the base of the plant or entirely underground near its roots.  These flowers are “cleistogamous” which means that they are closed and self-pollinating. They produce capsules which explode, releasing seeds that grow to be exact clones of the original plant.  Violets can also reproduce from underground rhizomes which again, are not edible.  The plants need some sunlight to produce their blooms, but generally prefer partial to full shade. By middle May, the large green leaves of the violet plants make such a lovely border on the sides of the trail that I wanted to bring a small garden shovel with me the next time I hiked in order to dig some up and replant them in my own garden, but I was reminded by my friends in the North Carolina Native Plant group I belong to that “…it is not recommended to remove plants that I do not own”.  So instead I’ll try to find some of the seeds to plant in my own yard. 

Violets are cousins to the hybrid plants we call pansies which are also in the Viola family but prefer sunny spots (as long as it’s not too hot) rather than shade. Both plants have leaves and blossoms that can be eaten either raw or cooked. As food, violets are versatile. The flowers of the violet plant can be made into a jelly or a syrup. The flowers can be frozen in ice cubes to add elegance to any drink.  You can also infuse vinegar with violets. Another way to enjoy them is by adding them to muffins or scones.  The greens can be sautéed or steamed, and also be made into a tea that can help cure a headache.  Violets are a good source of vitamin C and A and can ward off scurvy.  But be careful when harvesting these plants in western states like Oregon, or northern California.  Endangered butterflies rely on the early violet blossoms to survive, also harvest them while they are blooming so you do not confuse them with the poisonous Ficaria verna. 

Greeks and Romans used the plants to make wine and to sweeten festival dishes.  They cultivated the plants and used violets to make herbal medicines. In his book “The Complete Book of Violets”, Nelson Coons writes that in 446 BCE Hippocrates listed violet blooms and leaves as medicine for headaches, as well as constipation. More recently, they have been considered antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and a blood cleanser.  Violets are good for coughs and colds and violet leaves mixed with honey make a good cough syrup.  You can also use the plant topically for eczema, dry skin, bug bites and varicose veins.  Violet flowers and leaves make a good addition to soap.  The flowers supposedly have a lovely scent, but can only be smelled for short periods at a time. This is because the plant contains the chemical “ionone” that binds to the scent receptors in one’s nose and desensitizes it.  I don’t remember ever being able to smell violets. When I was a kid, I rolled around in thousands of violet plants in the back yard of a church near my house.  The lawn seemed to have been made up entirely of violet plants and I could pick hundreds of them at a time. Even though I can no longer smell violets some people can, because violet scent is used in oils, lotions and perfumes.  Violets are loved by almost everyone.  They are the state flowers of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.      

 If you want to learn more about this fascinating plant order the book mentioned above, or see these references on the web.  I included references about the fig buttercup as well:

Enchante Frangrances & Lifestyle, “Violets – Symbolism and Fragrance, and Some of my Favorite Violet Scents”, March 2019  https://enchantefragrance.com/violets/#:~:text=An%20interesting%20fact%20about%20ionone,the%20smell%20has%20set%20in.

Cornell University, New York Invasive Species (IS) information, “Lesser Celandine”, July 2019, https://nyis.info/invasive_species/lesser-celandine/

Jillian Pyle, Brandywine Conservancy, “Invasive Species Spotlight: Lesser Celandine (Ficaria Verna)”, February 20, 2020, https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/blog/invasive-species-spotlight-lesser-celandine-ficaria-verna#:~:text=Lesser%20celandine%2C%20Ficaria%20verna%2C%20is,1860s%20as%20an%20ornamental%20plant.

Little Flower Hut, “Violet – History, Meaning, Facts, Care & More”  posted 10/28/2019 by LFH https://www.littleflowerhut.com.sg/flower-guide/all-about-violet-history-meaning-facts-care-more/ retrieved 2-21-2022

Lorraine Grochowski-Kiefer, “Fragrant violets have a colorful history”, Daily Journal, April 9, 2015 https://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/life/2015/04/09/fragrant-violets-colorful-history/25523711/ retrieved 2-21-22

Auntie Dogma’s garden Spot, “Violets for a Variety of Health Benefits” , April 2013, https://auntiedogmasgardenspot.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/violets-for-a-variety-of-health-benefits/