Common blue violet is a common weed of turfgrass and landscapes. This plant often thrives in cool, moist, shady sites of the lawn. Common blue violet is a low-growing perennial with heart-shaped leaves that arise from a basal crown. Leaves are slightly pointed at the apex, have rounded teeth on the margins, and are found on long petioles. Common blue violet typically flowers from April through June. Flower color can range from deep purple to blue to sometimes gray to white. The foliage of common blue violet often remains green throughout the winter.

Common blue violet can be very difficult to control once established in the lawn. Many of the common "3-way" broadleaf weed killers for lawns will work on blue violet but need to be applied several times at the highest maximum rate. Applications can be staggered every two weeks. Repeat applications will knock it down. Some of these products are called Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer, Trimec, or Bayer Advanced Lawn Weed Killer for Lawns. These products contain a mixture of dicamba, 2,4-D, and MCPP or MCPA. Common blue violet will be better controlled with products that contain the active ingredient triclopyr, such as Weed-B-Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Killer. Remember, always read and follow labeled directions.