Arrowhead Violet
(Viola betonicifolia)
Arrowhead Violet (Viola betonicifolia)
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Harry Rose
CC BY 2.0
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Harry Rose
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CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Harry Rose | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: Macleay Grass Man | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Viola betonicifolia, commonly known as Arrowhead Violet, is an evergreen perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, forest margins, and grasslands across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Australasia. It typically forms clumps up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and is characterized by its long, slender, arrow-shaped leaves that grow from the base of the plant. These leaves are up to 6 cm (2.5 in) long with a v-shaped sinus at the base and are usually a bright, fresh green. The plant’s striking bright purple flowers, which are 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) in diameter, bloom in spring and summer and are quite showy, making it a desirable addition to garden settings. After flowering, it produces small pale brown pods containing tiny blackish seeds.
Arrowhead Violet is valued for its adaptability and ease of maintenance, thriving in a range of soil types as long as they are kept moist. It prefers at least partial shade but can tolerate full sun. This species is excellent for rockeries and is also used as ground cover due to its self-seeding nature and vigorous growth in heavier, moisture-retentive soils. In cultivation, it requires medium to high amounts of water and soils with medium to fast drainage. While generally disease-free, it can become overly vigorous in optimal conditions, potentially crowding out less assertive plants.CC BY-SA 4.0
Arrowhead Violet is valued for its adaptability and ease of maintenance, thriving in a range of soil types as long as they are kept moist. It prefers at least partial shade but can tolerate full sun. This species is excellent for rockeries and is also used as ground cover due to its self-seeding nature and vigorous growth in heavier, moisture-retentive soils. In cultivation, it requires medium to high amounts of water and soils with medium to fast drainage. While generally disease-free, it can become overly vigorous in optimal conditions, potentially crowding out less assertive plants.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.3-0.6 feet
- Width: 0.25-0.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Purple
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Fragrant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands, forest margins, and grasslands
Other Names
Common Names: Showy Violet, Mountain Violet
Scientific Names: , Viola betonicifolia, Viola betonicifolia var. longiscapa, Viola betonicifolia subsp. dielsiana, Viola oblongosagittata subsp. violascens, Viola patrinii subsp. caespitosa, Viola patrinii subsp. napaulensis, Viola patrinii var. laotiana, Viola patrinii var. nepaulensis,
GBIF Accepted Name: Viola betonicifolia Sm.