Scientific Name:
Viola sororia
About this Herb:
Wild violet is a low-growing clumping (simple) perennial with a dense, fibrous root system and heart-shaped leaves that often cup toward the petiole to form a funnel shape. Wild violet is often considered difficult-to-control due to its aggressive growth, waxy leaves and resistance to most common herbicides.Wild violet is most often found in shaded, fertile sites and prefers moist soils. Flowers occurs in mid-May; usually violet colored, but can vary from deep-blue-violet to completely white. Plants spread by rhizomes and seed.
Common Names:
Common Blue Violet, Common Meadow Violet, Purple Violet, Woolly Blue Violet, Hooded Violet, Wood Violet, Violet
Uses:
Both the leaves and blooms are edible-they can be tossed in a salad, used to make violet tea, violet syrup, violet jelly, and even violet vinegar.Violet leaves are used to make a poultice to relieve headaches. Violets are soaked in water, then the water can be used to relieve dysentery, colds, coughs, or used as a spring tonic. Violet roots are crushed and used as a poultice to aide in skin aliments. It is also believed that a cup of Violet tea is good for melancholy.
Applications:
Tea: Both the leaves and blooms are edible-they can be tossed in a salad, used to make violet tea, violet syrup, violet jelly, and even violet vinegar.Violet leaves are used to make a poultice to relieve headaches. Violets are soaked in water, then the water can be used to relieve dysentery, colds, coughs, or used as a spring tonic. Violet roots are crushed and used as a poultice to aide in skin aliments. It is also believed that a cup of Violet tea is good for melancholy.
Poultice: For headache relief, make poultice from violet leaves and place it on the forehead and temples, then lay down and rest for ½ with eyes closed. To aide in skin problems, make poultice from the Violets roots and put on afflicted area.
Eating: Eat raw fresh flowers and or leaves.