Viola hederacea

Viola hederacea, also known as the Ivy-leaved Violet or Australian Violet, is an adorable little perennial that carpets shady woodlands. From March to May-June, it is adorned with small, beautifully bicoloured flowers, mauve and white. Its rounded leaves, reminiscent of ivy leaves, persist more or less throughout winter. This violet, with its vigorous growth, is hardy down to -7°C (19.4°F), undemanding in terms of soil and requires no maintenance. Perfect as groundcover, it can also replace lawns in shaded and lightly trodden areas.

Viola hederacea belongs to the violet family. It is a species native to the Australian east coast, from Brisbane to Batemans Bay. This violet, which does not exceed 15 cm (6in) in height when flowering, spreads through underground rhizomes, colonising the soil over time. Its tightly packed leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, with lobed edges. They persist through winter until -5°C (23°F). The flowering is abundant and prolonged, starting more or less early in spring and continuing until summer if the soil remains moist. It is not uncommon to see it reflower in late summer or autumn.

The Ivy-leaved Violet prefers a moist and organic-rich soil but will tolerate a wide range of conditions, including under trees. It is used in borders, at the base of trees and shrubs, or in rockeries where it cascades beautifully. Pair it with primroses, pansies, horned violets, small ferns or liverworts. It can also be cultivated in pots or containers placed on window sills or terraces, with regular watering.

Violets and pansies belong to the Viola genus. How can you differentiate a violet from a pansy? By the arrangement of their petals: the former has two upright petals and three downward-facing petals, while the latter has four upright petals, with the fifth, larger than the others, bowing its head. Violets are almost all native to temperate regions of the world. The majority of them are perennials, but hybrids with large flowers are sold and used as annual plants.