Yarra Ranges Shire Council

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Viola hederacea

Common Name: Ivy-leaf or Native Violet
Synonym:
Family: Violaceae
Size: Prostrate-17cm x 1-2m
Description: Perennial herb rooting at leaf nodes and by underground stems forming a dense mat. Flowers held erect above leaves
Leaves: Rosettes of dark green kidney-shaped to semicircular leaves 15-20mm x 20-30mm, dull greyish-green below; tip rounded, margin obscurely toothed.
Flowering: Single flowers on stalks 6-17cm high. Lower petal wedge-shaped, 3 indistinct veins down the centre, crossed by branching side veins, tip usually notched, colours blurred. Side petals weakly twisted, beard over less than half width.
Flower Colour: White with pale violet centres
Flowering Time: Most of the year, esp June to March
Growing Conditions: Very widespread in dryish to moist well drained soils in forests. Partial sun to full shade.
Garden Use: Excellent ground cover for moist areas forming a dense mat. Useful in ferneries, as a ground cover in cottage gardens in containers & hanging baskets. Bright, large-flowered plants available commercially are misnamed. They are usually V. banksii from NSW.
Related Species:
Plant Communities: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 45, 46
Conservation Status: Widespread within the Shire
Aboriginal Use: Food - flowers
Commercially available: Generally. Plants in general nurseries rarely local.
Bird Attracting: No
Butterfly Attracting: No
Frog Habitat: Yes
Photographer: 1, 3, 4 Marilyn Gray ©; 2 Jean Edwards ©
Photo montage - default
Last Updated: 30/06/2010
Yarra Ranges Shire Council © 2009
P O Box 105, Anderson Street, Lilydale, VIC 3140
Tel: 1300 368 333 Fax: 9735 4249
mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au