How I use herbs - sweet violet

Apr 27, 2016by Liz Beavis

To be honest, I've had Sweet Violet (Viola Oderata) in my garden for about a year now and I'm not really sure how to use it. It smells lovely when it flowers and I've managed to keep it alive through winter and a hot dry summer. I thought this was a good opportunity to learn more myself.

eight acres: how to grow and use the herb Sweet Violet in the sub-tropics

How to grow sweet violet
I bought this herb as a small plant in a pot. It spreads as it grows, so its pretty easy to propagate by division. I've read that it also grows from seed. The plant seems to flower here in autumn, and dies back a bit when we get a heavy frost. I do have to remember to water it in summer, but otherwise its seems pretty hardy. I've planted it in a shady spot. Apparently it grows wild in some areas, but I think our climate is too harsh. It would be a great herb to forage if you have it locally.

How to use sweet violet
I haven't been actively using my sweet violet, but I'd like to start, here are a few things that jump out at me from my herb books. Firstly the flowers:

good nectar for bees (ours forage year-round)
edible and can be added to salads
the aroma is calming
make violet vinegar using apple cider vinegar and lots of flowers

The leaves are also useful:

mild expectorant action - treatment for colds and congestion as a tea
will also reduce fever and induce sweating
the tea can be used externally to relieve swollen joints (e.g. rheumatism) and eczema (here's a recipe for a balm made with violet leaves)
it seems to also have some anti-cancer properties, slowing the growth of tumours

I'd really like to try this violet leave soap recipe too.

I also notice that sweet violet is related to the pansy (Viola tricolor), which I didn't know had herbal properties. That's a good excuse to grow some pansies!

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