In This Article
In this article, you will learn the absolute best survival uses for violets that can boost your immune system, and even treat respiratory problems.
Who isn’t captivated by a shady wooded path strewn with a carpet of beautiful purple flowers? It almost immediately produces a magical feeling, sweeping us away with the sweet fragrance of the blooms. I’m curious what virtue of the violet earned it a place on the Napoleonic Imperial Army’s emblem!
It is undoubtedly a plant rich in offerings for us, whether for sensory pleasure or for practical purposes. Wild violets come in many kinds, some more fragrant than others, but all are edible and beautiful. In the wild, violets can be amazing DIY Food.
Where do Violets Grow?
Violets can be found on any continent. There are over 900 species in the world, with over 120 being grown as ornamentals. Native violets thrive in moist, shady woods in the Pacific Northwest.
Violets have gone to great lengths to attract early insects and pollinate their flowers. Lower petals have bright lines that shine like bee or butterfly landing strips.
Two modified stamens guard the nectary’s mouth, depositing pollen on visitors who crawl into the flower. Combs on the bottom petal collect pollen carried by bee bellies from other violet flowers.
Violets, on the other hand, have invented an ingenious backup strategy for reproduction in the event that they bloom too early for pollinators. In late summer, small greenish flowers appear under ground or on the soil’s surface. They are self-fertilized and do not open.
Some violet seeds have oil-bodies, which ants bring away for food and spread at a distance from the parent plant. Violets replicate by sending out runners that take root and develop into new plants.
Violets are seldom found emerging in dusty areas or in areas of low air quality. The undersides of the leaves have tiny hairs that collect debris and obstruct the plant’s breathing pores.
When to Harvest
When the violet leaves and flowers are still vivid in the spring and early summer, gather them. Pinch off leaves and flowers gently, leaving enough of the plant to ensure that it continues to thrive.
Many wild violets transplant well and thrive in shady spots in your yard. If you lack violets at lower elevations, you will find them in mountain forests and meadows at higher elevations in the summer.
How to Eat
Violet leaves and flowers are edible, as are pansies and Johnny jump ups, which are close relatives. According to herbalist Janice Schofield, only two violet leaves satisfy our daily vitamin C requirement!
Violet is a healthy spring trail snack that can be added to salads, soups, sautés, sauces, and anything else your imagination can concoct. To produce candied violets, brush the flowers with egg white, carefully coat them in confectioners sugar, and bake them at the lowest temperature in the oven.
Medicinal Uses for Violet Plants
Violet leaves are rich in mucilage, which soothes sore tissue. They contain salicylic acid, which aids in the relief of pain and swelling.
Traditionally, mashed flowers were applied to sore regions. Violets have been used to treat wounds by many people all over the world. When a friend closed her finger in the car door, I was sure of their healing abilities. After regaining her composure, she noticed pansies growing nearby and crushed some leaves and flowers to make a poultice. The discomfort soon subsided, and there was no sign of injury the next day!
Violet leaves and flowers have traditionally been used to treat cancer and swollen glands. Internally, tea made from the flowers, leaves, and sometimes the roots is used to remove tumors and relieve congested tissue.
Violets are used internally as a tea and externally as a poultice by herbalist Susan Weed to treat fibrocystic breasts, breast cancer, and mastitis. Violet has also been used to treat cancer and shrink tumors in Native American and Chinese medicine.
Violets have also been shown to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Sore throats, colds, sinus infections, and other respiratory problems are common in the spring. Violets, when eaten or taken as a tea, can help to alleviate these symptoms.
Violets, which have antiseptic properties, can also be used to treat minor scrapes and bruises in salves or ointments. Violet tea can also be beneficial in the treatment of insomnia. Despite their many advantages, violets often serve as a mild laxative, so don’t get too carried away until your body gets used to them!
Final Thoughts
Now that you have learned about the absolute best survival uses for violets, you have just improved yourself, and you are now more improved.
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Are all the violeta edible or just the wild ones?
Some people have found the yellow-flowered violets to be unedible. When eating the edible violets, they are entirely edible. Just remember to wash them right.