By Shirley Froehlich of Prairie Originals . They all had a great love of violets. And they weren't the only ones. Herbalists used violets extensively from the sixteenth century on to treat many ailments. Butterflies like them too.
Violets are the only food plants for the beautiful orange and black Fritillary butterflies.
I had quite a few Fritillary butterflies in my garden last summer. Our prairie violets are popular with my customers too. Maybe it is because their flowers appear in May when many other plants are just starting to show a few green sprouts. Whatever the reason, violets are a great plant for prairie gardens. No surprises there.