Every spring, my yard fills with native violets. I love them and encourage their spread! Earlier this week, I noticed two Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies dancing through the garden, and it’s no coincidence. These beautiful butterflies depend on native violets because they’re the only plant their caterpillars can eat.
Without violets, there can be no next generation of Great Spangled Fritillaries.
As adults, they return the favor by visiting nectar-rich native flowers like milkweed, helping pollinate the garden as they go.
This is one of the best reminders that native plants aren’t just beautiful, they’re part of an entire ecosystem. Every native plant has a story, and every one supports wildlife in ways we often don’t see.
So the next time you spot violets popping up in your lawn, you might just be looking at the future home of one of our most spectacular native butterflies!