Violet
Scientific name: Viola sororia, Viola odorata, and Viola tricolor
Introduction: Violets are welcome “weeds” in my garden. In fact, the Viola tricolor is the species I grow but I adore them all! Not only are they spritely spring time charmers, violets are a highly nutritious wild edible and versatile medicinal, with countless topical and internal uses. Children seem to have a special affinity for this charismatic group of plants, perhaps because their bright flowers are well within their reach. Think twice before weeding out this medicinal and edible wildflower: it may be one of the most valuable plants in your garden, even if you didn’t put it there!
The Viola genus contains around 550 species, mostly found in the temperate climates of the world. Most wild foods authors report that the blue and white flowered species of violet are all edible, but not the yellow flowered species. I notice that the leaves of many wild violets have an unpleasant soapy flavor, which leaves a funny feeling at the back of my throat; this is most likely from high levels of saponins. I avoid these plants and instead go for the milder- tasting species.
Some woodland species of violet are rare and should not be disturbed. As a solid approach to this quandary of which violets should be used for medicine or food, you might first identify the common species of violet in your area and then research their edibility and traditional uses for medicine. There’s a good chance that you have the common blue violet, heartsease, or the sweet violet growing in your area-all of which are good wild edibles and choice medicinals.
Heartsease in my back yard that started from seed last year, that traveled a few feet from my original potted plant
Shocking fact: many gardeners curse the common blue violet, despite its beauty, usefulness, and native status- these violet haters are good canidates to acquire plants from, as long as they don;t spray. And even violet lovers may have an over-abundance of plants and will gladly share their bounty.
To grow the common wild violet from seed, sow the seed directly in the garden in the fall right at the surface of the soil, taking care not to cover the seed. Alternately, stratify stratify the seed for two months in damp sand in the refrigerator, and surface sow in the spring.
The sweet violet (Viola odorata) is the principal medicinal and culinary species used in Europe and Asia. Cultivated for over two thousand years for its fragrance and medicine, it has escaped from the garden in many locales, including throughout North America and Australia. This perennial herb grows in hedgerows, fields, gardens, and at the edges of woodlands. Much of the American use of violets stems from the European herbal tradition.
The sweet violet is a soothing expectorant, a gentle laxative, and an anti-inflammatory for digestive mucosa. Topically, it’s used as a compress or poultice to ease hot, inflamed conditions such as boils, hemorrhoids, and conjunctivitis. Like many violets, it contains low levels of salicylates and is used as a skeletomuscular anti-inflammatory. In Traditional Chinese medicine, it’s used internally for a number of cancers and topically for hot swellings, cysts and tumors.
The sweet violet pictured above.
Plant the seed in the fall or stratify the seed for a monthly in damp sand before sowing. Germination is sporadic and can take over one year. Sweet violet is somewhat notorious for poor germination, so you might consider purchasing established plants and widening your patch through root division. Plant in the full sun to light shade in cooler climates and full shade in hotter climates. Sweet violet is a spreading perennial groundcover, and depending on your climate, it may self sow and become invasive.
Viola tricolor
Heartsease, or Johnny jump ups, or wild pansy (Viola tricolor) is native to temperate Europe and has escaped cultivation in many locales. It resembles a miniature pansy and is an old-fashioned bedding plant, with many cultivars still available.
Heartsease has many of the same medicinal uses as the sweet violet , with some additional cardiovascular uses. The leaves and flowers have been used as a remedy for cardiac conditions including high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. It is also used internally and externally for a number of skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. With its high levels of flavonoids, especially in the flowers, the plant is highly antioxidant and has a good degree of anti-inflammatory and blood vessel -strengthening applications. Like sweet violet, heartsease contains salicylates and has been used internally as a skeletomuscular anti-inflammatory.
Plant the seeds in the early spring directly in the garden or in flats. Heartsease will grow in full sun to slight shade and will self-sow. Once you have a patch established, it’s common not to have to replant if you don’t mulch too heavily.
Pansies are hybrids originating with crosses between Viola tricolor and other Viola species. They have edible flowers if they haven’t been sprayed (most commercial bedding plants are grown with chemicals). Try looking for pansy plants from your local organic herb nursery or grow your own.
Edibility and Preparation: I enjoy violet leaves and flowers in salads, pesto, and sandwiches and wraps. Lately I’ve been enjoying it in my foccacia bread and you can see this article for how to use the flowers that way!
You can also dry the leaves and add them to other spring edibles, such as chickweed (Stellaria media0, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and nettles (Urtica diocia) to prepare a high mineral herbal vinegar. The flowers make a lovely garnish- try sprinkling them on salads or adorning cakes and pancakes. Violet flowers are also beautiful when candied or frozen into ice cubes.
**The roots of most violet species can cause nausea, vomitting, and diarrhea and should not be eaten.
My foccacia bread with Violet flowers about to go in the oven.
Actions: Diuretic, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antitumor, alterative, lymphagogue, vulnerary, antirheumatic, and mild laxative.
Energetics: Cooling and moistening
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers; aboveground parts in flower
Medicinal Preparation: Infusion, syrup, honey, vinegar, poultice, compress, salve and infused oil.
Contraindications: Do not consume the root. Avoid the internal use with individuals who have the rare inherited disorder G6PD (glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency, because, it can aggravate hemolytic anemia.