Viola mirabilis aka Wonder Violet

Viola mirabilis is a small perennial in the violet family, Violaceae. Its common names include wonder violet and broad-leaved violet. It comes from temperate parts of Europe and Asia. Kew gives its native range as temperate Eurasia. The RHS does not list it as native to Britain or Ireland. It grows to about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall.

This violet lives in woods and at their edges. In Europe, it grows on soils rich in bases. Its Chinese habitats include broad-leaved woods and mixed forests. It also grows in thickets and on grassy slopes. These habitats suit its use in a woodland garden. Plants For A Future lists both shaded and sunny woodland edges. Dappled shade is another listed garden setting.

Plants For A Future gives June to July as its flowering season. Seeds ripen from July to August. Each flower has both male and female parts. The plant can set seed through its own pollen. It uses cleistogamy, in which flowers stay closed during pollination. This lets it reproduce without its flowers opening. The supplied species records give no flower colour or fruit description.

Choose cool, moist soil with plenty of humus and good drainage. Partial shade or light, broken shade best matches its stated preference. It can also grow in sun, according to Plants For A Future. Shelter from hot, drying winds is part of its listed care. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils when drainage is good. The preferred pH lies between 6 and 6.5. It tolerates sandstone and limestone soils, but high pH can cause chlorosis. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8.

Young leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked. They can thicken soups, and the leaves can make tea. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards for this species. That statement does not establish safety for pets. The same source records a medicinal use linked to the heart. It gives no details to guide that use. Propagation is by seed or division. Sow fresh seed in autumn or stored seed in early spring. Use a cold frame for either sowing. Divide plants in autumn or just after flowering. Grow small divisions under cover in light shade until established. The source does not flag this violet as weedy.