Native violets are highly beneficial for the ecosystem and pollinators across the West

As spring stretches into longer, warmer days, the West will come alive with vibrant colors and the flutter of delicate wings. Amid this hum of activity, a small and often overlooked wildflower is playing a critical role in sustaining pollinators and native ecosystems.

Although native violets are frequently dismissed as weeds in lawns and pastures, the dainty flower is actually highly beneficial to the environment and essential to the survival of pollinators, specifically fritillary butterflies.

“With their heart-shaped leaves and cheery blue flowers, violets really aren’t bad guys. In fact, they are the host plant for a wide range of butterflies known as fritillaries,” writes Justin Wheeler in an April 7, 2017 Xerces Society blog post. “Like monarchs, whose caterpillars only feed on milkweed, the 14 species of greater fritillaries and 16 lesser fritillaries will only lay their eggs where there are violets for their larva to feed upon.”

Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Laurie Zitterkopf reiterates the significance of native violets in the life cycle of fritillary butterflies.

“The fritillary butterfly lays her egg in the fall. The egg then hatches and overwinters,” Zitterkopf explains. “In the spring, it must find a native violet plant to feed.”

This biological relationship makes violets critical across the Intermountain West, where multiple fritillary species and other important pollinators depend on them.

Fritillary butterflies

Wyoming is home to several fritillary species, including the regal, Northwestern, coronis and variegated fritillaries. 

Among them, the regal fritillary stands out as a “prairie specialist” and a species of growing conservation concern. Once widespread, its populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, and in 2024 the western population was proposed to be listed on the Endangered Species Act. 

Although fritillaries are often mistaken for monarch butterflies due to their similar orange and black coloring, they differ in both pattern and behavior. 

While adult butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of flowers, such as milkweed, thistle butterfly weed, lilacs and mints, fritillary caterpillars are far more picky. 

“Like many other butterflies, caterpillars are very selective about what they eat. They do not go for milkweeds as do monarchs – they prefer violets instead. Without violets, there would be no fritillaries,” notes an undated U.S. Forest Service (USFS) publication.

This dependence creates a relationship based on delicate timing. 

“The females emit an enticing aroma called a pheromone to attract males. The adults mate in the summer. Afterwards, females will sometimes take a nap for a few weeks, known as diapause. They emerge from diapause in late summer and lay their eggs near patches of violets,” USFS explains.

“Caterpillars hatch in the fall and go to sleep right away without feeding. They sleep through the winter and will only awaken in the spring at the same time violet plants begin to grow. Timing is important to the hungry caterpillar,” USFS continues. “It is feared global warming may disrupt this synchronization, which would prove catastrophic to fritillary caterpillars. Studies are underway to verify whether this is already taking place.”

Native violets

In addition to their important relationship with fritillary butterflies, violets provide other benefits to native ecosystems.

According to Zitterkopf, violets provide early season nectar for bees and other pollinators, which helps support biodiversity at a time when few other plants are blooming, and their presence encourages pollinator activity, which is essential for fruit and vegetable production in both home gardens and agricultural systems. 

Below ground, the flower’s deep root systems help break up impacted soil, improving aeration and drainage. 

“This action helps pull essential nutrients such as potassium and calcium to the surface, where they become available to other plants,” Zitterkopf states. 

Above ground, violets are not only beneficial, they are also useable. In fact, because they are rich in vitamins A and C, violet leaves can be added to salads or cooked like spinach, while blooms are commonly used as edible garnishes.

Several native violet species can be found across Wyoming, blooming in meadows and open woodlands and along streams and shaded canyons.

Zitterkopf notes Nutall’s violet, a bright yellow species with purple stripes, is common in prairie landscapes, blooms from April through early summer and is particularly well adapted to grazing systems. Because it is a low-growing plant – typically about four inches tall – Zitterkopf says moderate grazing can actually benefit the plant by preventing taller vegetation from shading it out.

Other species found across the West include the hooked-spur violet, a purple-blue variety commonly found in moist areas, and the mountain white violet, which grows at higher elevations. 

The yellow sagebrush violet and goosefoot violet are also present in parts of the state. 

Protecting both species

For producers and landowners living in the Intermountain West, experts note the importance of maintaining native plant diversity – including violets – as they play a critical role in supporting beneficial pollinators and overall ecosystem health. 

As concern grows over pollinator declines and habitat loss, small management decisions can make a big difference, even if it means rethinking the role of plants once considered undesirable. 

Without violets, fritillary butterflies wouldn’t survive, and without fritillaries and other pollinators, the broader ecosystem would feel a significant negative impact. 

Therefore, individuals may want to consider allowing patches of native violets to persist in pastures, hay meadows and other areas this spring to help sustain fritillary populations and fellow pollinators.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.