Japanese name: ヒメムラサキハナナ（姫紫花菜） Scientific name:Ionopsidium acaule
[Overview]
An annual about 10 cm tall.
It branches well from the base and forms a rounded, bushy habit overall.
The leaves are simple and alternate, kidney-shaped to pentagonal, 1–2 cm long, with low teeth on the margin.
They have long petioles.
At the tip of a long flower stalk arising from the leaf axil, a single white to pale purple four-petaled flower about 1 cm across is borne.
The fruit is flat, shaped like a gunbai (war fan), about 0.4 cm across.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers a cool climate and is highly cold-hardy, so in warm regions it can be grown and will flower even in winter.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained soil.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, taking care not to let it dry out.
If given too much fertilizer it becomes leggy and falls over easily, so if a base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly needed.
If cut back by about half after flowering, side shoots grow and a second flush of flowers can be enjoyed.
Aphids can occur.
