Japanese name: ノジスミレ（野路菫） Scientific name:Viola yedoensis var. yedoensis
[Overview]
A perennial that prefers sunny places in lowlands and grows along roadsides and similar sites around human settlements.
The leaves and flower stalks usually have short hairs.
There is no aerial stem.
The leaves have long stalks and grow from the base; they are 3–6 cm long, slender spatulate to long lanceolate, with wavy margins and low teeth.
The leaves become wider at fruiting time.
The leaf stalks have almost no wings, only slightly projecting at the top.
The flowers are borne at the tips of erect flower stalks arising from the leaf axils; they are about 1.5 cm across and a strongly bluish deep purple, with purple lines on a white ground in the center of the lip petal.
The petal margins are wavy.
The bases of the lateral petals are usually hairless, and a slender spur of 5–7 mm extends behind the flower.
The summer flowers are cleistogamous.
The fruit is a capsule that splits into 3 when ripe and scatters the seeds.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by stem cuttings, or by division.
It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil rich in humus.
It is easy to grow, but powdery mildew may occur.
Pests include aphids, spider mites, armyworms and the Indian fritillary (Tsumaguro-hyomon).
