Violet facts for kids

Violet is a word with a few different meanings! It can be a beautiful color, or it can be a lovely flower. Let's explore both!

What is the Color Violet?

Violet is a color you see in a rainbow, right between blue and red. It's often described as a deep purple. This color is named after the violet flower.

How We See Violet

Light is made of different colors, and each color has a different wavelength. Violet light has the shortest wavelength of all the colors we can see. Our eyes have special cells that help us see colors. When light with a violet wavelength hits our eyes, our brain interprets it as the color violet.

Violet in Art and Culture

Violet has been used in art for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used violet dyes, and Roman emperors sometimes wore violet robes to show their power. In many cultures, violet is seen as a color of royalty, magic, or mystery. It can also represent creativity and imagination.

Famous Violet Things

• The last color in a rainbow, often remembered as part of ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
• Amethyst gemstones are often a beautiful shade of violet.
• Some famous paintings use a lot of violet to create a certain mood.

What is the Violet Plant?

The violet plant is a small, pretty flower known for its sweet smell and, of course, its violet-colored petals. There are many different kinds of violet plants, and they grow all over the world.

Types of Violet Flowers

There are hundreds of species of violets! Some common ones include:

• The Sweet Violet (Viola odorata): This is a very popular type, known for its strong, lovely scent. It often has dark purple flowers.
• The Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia): This one is very common in North America and often grows in lawns. Its flowers are usually blue-violet.
• The Pansy (Viola tricolor hortensis): Pansies are actually a type of violet that have been bred to have larger, often multi-colored flowers.

Where Violets Grow

Violets are very adaptable plants. You can find them growing in many different places, from forests and meadows to gardens and even cracks in sidewalks. They often prefer shady or partly shady spots with moist soil.

Life Cycle of a Violet Plant

Violets are perennial plants, which means they can live for more than two years. They often bloom in the spring, showing off their colorful flowers.

How Violets Reproduce

Violets can reproduce in a few ways:

• Seeds: After the flowers bloom, they produce seeds. These seeds can be carried by wind or animals to new places, where they can grow into new plants.
• Rhizomes: Many violets also spread using underground stems called rhizomes. New plants can sprout from these rhizomes, forming a patch of violets.

Uses of Violet Plants

Violets are not just pretty to look at!

• Food: The flowers and leaves of some violet species are edible. They can be used in salads, to make syrups, or even candied for decoration. They are a good source of vitamins.
• Medicine: Historically, violets have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes, though it's always important to check with an adult before trying any plant for medicinal reasons.
• Perfume: Because of their sweet scent, sweet violets have been used to make perfumes and scented products for centuries.

Images for kids

• Violet color spectrum.jpg

  The color violet in a light spectrum.

• Violet flower close-up.jpg

  A close-up of a violet flower.