Troublesome Weeds: Wild Violet
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Wild violet goes by many names in the Midwest. Blue violet, woolly blue violet, Confederate violet. But it’s certainly always called one thing: a problem.
The weed grows in bunches, reaching a height of two to five inches. It has heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges that are often cupped toward the petiole to form a funnel. It has small pansy-like flowers with five petals that range in color from blue violet to lavender to white. This causes it to stick out like a sore thumb in turf grasses.
“We are constantly trying to control wild violet because of the visible flowers seen in the turf. These are very difficult-to-control weeds because they are perennial and very persistent,” said Dr. Jared Hoyle, territory manager.
What makes wild violet so challenging?
Wild violet is difficult to control because of its aggressive growth and limited herbicide options. Part of the reason for that difficulty is also because the weed has a thick, waxy cuticle that interferes with herbicide uptake, as well as stout underground rhizomes.1
Leaves and stems come from growing points on the thick, branching rhizomes in early spring and continue to develop throughout the growing season.
“Even though we are trying to control it in the springtime, the best timing for broadleaf weed control is in the fall,” Hoyle said.
How do you control wild violet?
Hoyle said that there are many products out there that claim control of wild violet, but the key is in the amount of the most effective active ingredient — triclopyr.
“Not all the broadleaf active ingredients or chemistries are going to control wild violet,” he said. “And even if you use the right active ingredient, you had better make sure that you have enough of it to do the job.”
With wild violet’s penchant for difficulty, one pass with less than the recommended rate is going to have you coming back with at least a second application.
“Point blank, for best control of wild violet in cool-season turfgrass, use triclopyr,” Hoyle said. “Now there are many products out there that have triclopyr in the mixture but, is it enough to do the job? Make sure you check the label of the combination herbicides you are using to ensure you have enough triclopyr for control.”
For the best results, Hoyle recommends delivering 0.5 lb ae/A of triclopyr.
Triclopyr is the active ingredient in Turflon® Ester Ultra specialty herbicide which and at the lowest label rate (1 pt/A) contains at least 0.5 lb ae/A of triclopyr, the amount needed for wild violet control.
Here’s how it stacks up according to Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals by Perdue Extension:
Products that contain triclopyr and the amount of triclopyr at the low and high labeled rate in pounds of acid equivalent (ae) per acre.1 |
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Product |
Amount of triclopyr at the low and high labeled rate in pounds of acid equivalent (ae) per acre. |
At the LOWEST labeled rate, contains at least 0.5 lb ae/A of triclopyr |
At the HIGHEST labeled rate, contains at least 0.5 lb ae/A of triclopyr |
4-Speed XT |
0.06-0.14 |
NO |
NO |
Aquasweep, Chaser 2 Amine |
0.27-0.54 |
NO |
YES |
Battleship III |
0.07-0.15 |
NO |
NO |
Chaser, Crossroad, Everett |
0.25-0.5 |
NO |
YES |
Confront, 2-D |
0.28-0.56 |
NO |
YES |
Cool Power, Three-way Ester II |
0.09-0.13 |
NO |
NO |
Foundation |
0.20-0.25 |
NO |
NO |
Horsepower, Eliminate |
0.10-0.14 |
NO |
NO |
Momentum 4-Score |
0.11-0.14 |
NO |
NO |
Momentum FX2 |
0.1-0.13 |
NO |
NO |
Sure Power, Tetra |
0.06-0.10 |
NO |
NO |
Tailspin |
0.38-0.75 |
NO |
YES |
Turflon Ester Ultra, Triclopyr 4, Trycera |
0.5-1.0 |
YES |
YES |
Turflon II Amine |
0.33-0.47 |
NO |
NO |
TZONE, TZONE SE, Triad TZ Select |
0.13-0.25 |
NO |
NO |
“Ultimately, we have to do a little bit of homework to make sure we not only have the correct active ingredient for the weed we want to control but to make sure we have enough of it as well,” Hoyle said.
1Patton, A. 2022. Turfgrass weed control for professionals. Perdue Extension, Lafayette, IN.
Confront® is not for sale or use in Nassau and Suffolk counties, New York. State restrictions on the sale and use of Confront and Turflon® Ester Ultra apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions.
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