Common Name: Wonder Violet

General Information

Viola mirabilis is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a small cluster of basal leaves growing from a short, branched rhizome; it can grow 6 - 40cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine

Known Hazards

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 are purplish to pale violet in colour[, ].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - Norway to Spain, east to the Balkans and through northern Asia to the Russian Far east, China, Japan and Korea

Habitat

Woodlands on base rich soils in most of Europe[]. Broad-leaved forests, needle-leaved and broad-leaved mixed forests, forest margins, thickets and grassy slopes; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	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[].
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 are purplish to violet in colour[].
Like several other members of this genus, this species has two types of flower. The first type has petals and is pollinated by insects, the second type, known as cleistogamous, does not have petals, never opens, but self-fertilizes and produces fertile seed[].

Edible Uses

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

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the plant is used to treat heart palpitations[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.