Viola collina 'Hill Violet'

[Ex. Hořovická pahorkatina, Czech Republic]

Violaceae: a perennial growing to 10cm, reaching 20cm at fruiting, with a yellow-brown rhizome. Found in forests, forest margins, thickets, grasslands, grassy slopes, mountain valleys, moist places along roadsides. The flowers purple clear or whitish, weakly fragrant. Reclining spur, almost white. 1.4 cm long. Blooming March-May. The leaves largely oval, deeply and narrowly in the heart at the base. Native to Europe to Eastern Asia in Mongolia, China and Korea.

USES:

The young leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. A tea can be made from the leaves.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Sow seeds from autumn to early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils.

HARVESTED:

 
APPROX. 30 SEEDS