Viola eizanensis var. eizanensis

Japanese name: エイザンスミレ （叡山菫）
Scientific name: Viola eizanensis var. eizanensis

[Overview]
A perennial 5–15 cm tall, found in deciduous forests in the mountains.
It has a short underground stem.
The leaves are basal, about 5–9 cm long, divided into 3 lobes down to the base, and the lobes are further divided.
The leaves enlarge after flowering, reaching 10–15 cm in length.
The flowers are borne at the tips of erect flower stalks, about 2–2.5 cm across, and range in color from pale reddish purple to white, sometimes with reddish-purple streaks.
The petal margins are often wavy, and the bases of the lateral petals have hairs.
The flowers are fragrant.
A thick, short spur extends behind the flower.
The fruit is a capsule that splits into 3 when ripe and scatters the seeds.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by root cuttings, or by division.
It prefers well-drained soil rich in humus.
It is best placed in the sun from autumn to spring and in partial shade in summer; when planted in the ground, plant it under deciduous trees.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues in summer and the soil dries out.
In addition to base fertilizer, apply diluted liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks from spring to autumn.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, aphids, spider mites, armyworms and the Indian fritillary butterfly.

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