They're Violets. It's just my personal onion but to me that little wildflower is infinitely more attractive than the threadbare grass. If grass isn't happy in your lawn you could allow healthy plants which are better suited to your conditions to do the job? It's only convention that says a lawn should be grass.

Take a good look at the soil and make that soil into something that turf grasses prefer and wild violets do not, although that is difficult since they like mostly the same soils. However, a good thick turf will do more to keep unwanted plants from growing than anything else.

Violets, while tolerant of many soil types and conditions, much prefer a soil that is somewhat moister than turf grass does but has about the same amount of organic matter.

kimmq is kimmsr

Native violet in a likely sea of non-native grass. Looks like V. sororia.

Agreed. Viola sororia. I have several colors of this plant. I personally l9ve them in my yard. Yes they can spread quickly. And they self seed like crazy. But still... I love them. You can eat the flowers and they are a host plant for some butterflies and moths. So there is some use for them.

missa, I have a red variety that is almost woody. Just a little larger leaves and not as bushy and other violets. If you love them, I will surely send you a few.