Viola hederacea|Ivy-leaf or Native Violet
Cardinia indigenous plant guide
- Description
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Perennial herb rooting at leaf nodes and by underground stems forming a dense mat. Flowers held erect above leaves
- Size (W x H)
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Prostrate-17cm x 1-2m
- Leaves
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Rosettes of dark green kidney-shaped to semicircular leaves 15-20mm x 20-30mm, dull greyish-green below; tip rounded, margin obscurely toothed.
- Flowers
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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
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White with pale violet centres
- Flower time
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Most of the year, esp June to March
- Growing conditions
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Very widespread in dryish to moist well drained soils in forests. Partial sun to full shade.
- Commonly used for
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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 NS
- Available at indigenous nursery
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- Attracts frogs
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- Photo gallery
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- Acknowledgement
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Thank you to Shire of Yarra Ranges for assistance in compiling this directory