Viola hederacea Flower (30/06/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Partial shade to shade
Flowering period: Early summer to early autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 15cm
Eventual Spread: 25cm
Hardiness: 8b – 11
Family: Violaceae
Viola hederacea is a low growing, semi-evergreen spreading herbaceous perennial. Its dark green leaves are reniform with mildly dentate margins and are up to 2cm long and 3cm broad. Its single flowers are white with purple centres and have the distinctive violet shape. Its fruit is a capsule which is up to 6mm long, when mature it produces brown seeds. Its produces stolons which aids its spread.
Viola hederacea, commonly known as Ivy Leaf Violet or Australian Violet, is native to east and south east Australia. In its native habitat it grows in well drained forests
The etymological root of the binomial name Viola is from the ancient Latin name for the ‘Violet’ and other ‘spring flowers’. Hederacea is derived from the Latin Hedera meaning ‘Ivy’, in reference to the leave of this plant being similar to the Ivy.
Viola hederacea (30/06/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Viola hederacea useful as an effective low growing ground cover, particularly in shady locations.
Ecologically, V. hederacea is of little benefit in the UK.
V. hederacea prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Viola hederacea requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.
