Common Name: Heartsease

General Information

Viola tricolor is a very variable, annual to perennial plant with erect stems 10 - 40cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of a dye. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in the garden.

Known Hazards

A decoction of the plant has been known to cause dermatitis in some people[].
All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ]. The flowers of this species vary widely in colour from white, through yellow to purples and blues[].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Corsica, W. Asia, Siberia, Caucasus.

Habitat

Cultivated and waste ground, short grassland etc, mainly on acid and neutral soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Bees, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds[, ]. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high[]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5[].
A very variable species[]. It is normally an annual plant, but it is sometimes a short-lived perennial[].
A good bee plant[].
Grows well with rye but dislikes growing with wheat[].
All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ]. The flowers of this species vary widely in colour from white, through yellow to purples and blues[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[, ].

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

The small attractive flowers are added to salads or used as a garnish[].

Medicinal

Heartsease has a long history of herbal use and was at one time in high repute as a treatment for epilepsy, asthma, skin diseases and a wide range of other complaints[]. In modern herbalism it is seen as a purifying herb and is taken internally in the treatment of skin complaints such as eczema[].

The herb is anodyne, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, cardiac, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative and vulnerary[, , , , , , ]. Being expectorant, it is used in the treatment of various chest complaints such as bronchitis and whooping cough, whilst its diuretic action makes it useful for treating rheumatism, cystitis and difficulty in passing urine[].
Applied externally, it is used as an ointment for treating eczema and other skin complaints and is also useful in cases of rheumatism, bed-wetting etc[, ].
The plant is harvested from June to August and dried for later use[].

The root is emetic[].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the entire plant[]. It is used in the treatment of cutaneous eruptions[]. The principal uses of this remedy are for the treatment of eczema in childhood and nocturnal emission accompanied by very vivid dreams[]..

Other Uses

Yellow, green and blue-green dyes are obtained from the flowers[].

The leaves can be used in place of litmus in testing for acids and alkalis[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame.
Division in the autumn or just after flowering. The plant is a short-lived perennial and division is not that worthwhile.