Plant Problem Diagnostic
How to Control Wild Violet in Lawns
The short answer
Wild violet is a low, clump-forming perennial with heart-shaped leaves and blue-purple flowers that spreads by rhizomes and exploding seed pods, so it is one of the harder lawn weeds to remove. For small infestations, dig out the plants and pull up all roots and stems, or it will regrow.
Cultural practices like mowing and fertilizing have little effect on established violets because of their waxy leaves and robust rhizomes. Frequent mowing can slow spread somewhat, but expect repeated digging and monitoring over time, and escalate if patches are widespread.
How to identify it
Wild violet forms low clumps a few inches tall with heart- to oval-shaped leaves that have rounded teeth on the margins. Flowers have five blue-purple petals with darker veins fading to a white throat. It also makes small self-fertilizing flowers near the ground that fling seeds.
- Heart-shaped, toothed leaves in low clumps
- Five-petaled blue-purple flowers with a white throat
- Spreads by rhizomes and seed flung from pods
- Seeds also carried by ants
Cultural and physical control
- 1Dig out small patches — Remove the entire plant including rhizomes and roots when soil is moist; any left-behind rhizome can regrow, so revisit and re-dig.
- 2Mow more frequently — More frequent mowing can decrease violet populations somewhat, though it will not eliminate established plants.
- 3Keep turf dense — A thick, well-managed lawn resists new seedlings, though standard fertilizing and watering have limited impact on established violets.
→ Violets resist control because a thick, waxy leaf surface and strong underground rhizomes let them recover quickly, so multiple attempts are normal.
When to escalate
If digging and mowing fail to control widespread violets in a lawn, chemical options may be needed. For chemical options consult your county Extension and always follow the label. Note that some violets are native plants, so confirm identification before treating.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- University of Minnesota Extension — Wild violet — Wild violet spreads by rhizomes and seed, forms low clumps with heart-shaped leaves and five-petaled blue-purple flowers, and can be dug out including roots.
- University of Illinois Extension — Managing Violets — Cultural practices have little impact on wild violet because of waxy leaves and robust rhizomes; digging out all roots and stems is needed for small infestations.