Violets are blue...sometimes.

What do you think of this really tiny native Violet?

---

Viola hederacea. Tiny, terrified form.

I've checked Vicflora and the Yarra Ranges Plant Directory, confirming it to be the highly variable in leaf-shape and flower size, Viola hederacea.

This form is such a tiny but absolutely enchanting form. As you see, it is growing in a small container because I think it is far too little to be out in the garden by itself.

Each time I look at it, I want to find a tiny, near weightless, purest Cashmere blanket, and a very tiny dummy for the poor wee thing.

The thought that in nature, it grows naturally, all by itself out in the bush, is concerning.

What Big ‘Ears’ You Have.

As you'll know, there's a lot of variability in Viola hederacea in nature.

At a minimum, you'll probably have the commonly grown, widely available in nurseries around the country, ‘Native Violet’.

It's the one that has large - for a violet - white with purple throat, smiling flowers on tall stems that sit well above the foliage.

This widely-grown, vigorous form is still incorrectly although understandably, sold as Viola hederacea.

It is actually Viola banksii, has been for years and it comes originally, from NSW.

You'll know if your growing it because Viola banksii has a frightening enthusiasm for expansion, and it will spread/invade any remotely damp spot in the garden. That is a bonus or a curse depending on your needs.

Those missing dog toys? You'll find them deeply embedded amongst the Viola banksii foliage, yet even the largest, bravest, longest-legged dog, desperately on the hunt for its mislaid play toys, will be too frightened to wade into the 30cm high, deep, dense foliage.

Then there are…

You’ll know that there are some naturally occurring as well as some ‘sports’ of Viola hederacea that are less ‘expansionist’.

Viola hederacea ‘Monga Magic’ is lovely, with entirely powder blue flowers and there’s a white flowering Viola hederacea form also.

Viola hederacea ‘Monga Magic’ & inset of white flowering form (terrible photograph sorry).

Still going?

There's a striking, long-leaved, purple to deep blue Australian viola that is indigenous to my area and with natural, wide spread distribution from Tasmania, then up the east coast of Australia; Victoria, NSW and Queensland and Cape York (and PNG).

Interestingly and probably sadly, Viola betonicifolia self-seeds with such alacrity that it is considered an unwelcome ‘weed’ for many nurseries, in the Southern states at least.

Look for long, narrow leaves if you are nursery browsing.

It won't necessarily be a problem for you, but the mobility of nursery stock around Australia means that much of what turns up in gardens via nursery stock is not of their local Provinence.

I purchased a Marianthus drummondii in a Melbourne nursery, that I know was grown in a South Australian nursery. I planted it in a container and seedlings of Viola betonicifolia that must have hitched a ride in the pot of Marianthus germinated. Cute though.

Counting Viola species.

As I understand it, and always happy to be corrected, there are at least…

Eighteen Australian native species of Viola.

At least nine species, along with sub-species occur in Victoria - with at least three having some level of a Threatened rating in that State.😟

Closer to my home, there are …

four Viola species that are Indigenous to my Yarra Ranges area.

Native violets are an easy plant to take for granted, but, if you look close-up into the face of a Viola flower preferably in-situ, not picked, you'll usually see it has very hairy side-burns and a very friendly countenance. They’ll quickly improve your mood.

VICFLORA:

https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/c419789b-5659-4a05-891e-735053c34881

PLANTNET:

https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Viola~banksii

YARRA RANGES PLANT DIRECTORY:

https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/PlantDirectory/Herbs-Groundcovers/Viola-hederacea

🐞 🐞 🐞