When I first started gardening addictively, I created a long sunny border along my driveway. To provide a temporary edging for this garden until I could find longer-term edging plants, I transplanted wild violets (dark purple and pale blue/white) from the many nearby places where they grew wild. Each tiny transplant quickly grew into a strapping specimen.

Both the flowers and the foliage of the wild violets were lovely at first. In addition, they had such personality: puffing up happily when their water needs were met and flattening out completely when they needed water.

But soon violets were popping up all over my new garden, competing fiercely with all other plants. So, with some regret, I decided to remove them. However, each time I removed a violet, a ring of tiny seedlings surrounding the displaced plant would quickly rise up to replace it.

It took a lot of time, vigilance and determination to remove all the violets, and some sadness too because they were so pretty. But now they are all back where I got them in the first place, seemingly happy to be home.

CS, I have been eradicating violets for ten years now! The previous owner of my house had planted them all along a long fence, and because I remembered my dad's own battle with them, I started pulling them immediately. They're STILL popping up in the middle of my perennials! Oh well. Gives me a reason to get my hands dirty ...

I'm a bit confused about violets becoming a pest. I initially planted V. odorata among my hostas on the northwest side of the house. They have gradually traveled all along the north side and around to the east side. Mostly they pop up under shrubs or larger perennials, often creating nice combos. They don't seem to crowd anyone out of their spot, and I rather like their little cheery blooms here and there. I do pull them when they start draping over the walkways, but it seems to be easy enough to do. Perhaps they are more of a thug in other locales? Or perhaps I'm just more lenient about letting plants colonize where they are happy. In any event, they are a welcome splash of color for me.

Same here Deb. I have wild violets growing in the front yard around the ditch. I trying to get them to spread, but they haven't in 30 years. I dig them up move them around trying to encourage them to get more established but all I have is just those few plants that pop up along the ditch line.

Bonehead said:I'm a bit confused about violets becoming a pest. I initially planted V. odorata among my hostas on the northwest side of the house. They have gradually traveled all along the north side and around to the east side. Mostly they pop up under shrubs or larger perennials, often creating nice combos. They don't seem to crowd anyone out of their spot, and I rather like their little cheery blooms here and there. I do pull them when they start draping over the walkways, but it seems to be easy enough to do. Perhaps they are more of a thug in other locales? Or perhaps I'm just more lenient about letting plants colonize where they are happy. In any event, they are a welcome splash of color for me.

I love the idea of violets with hostas and under shrubs, perhaps in shady gardens. I should have mentioned that they proved to be invasive for me in a very sunny garden.

CS, that well may be the difference. I haven't had them move into the sun, and will keep an eye on that. I do like them in the shade and since they spread themselves, I have no problem yanking them where I don't want them. I'm always surprised when I clean up the daylilly that is kind of at the cusp between my shade and sun to find several violets completely buried with spent lily leaves but thriving anyway.