Viola Somchetica

Viola somchetica is an uncommon perennial violet native from the Caucasus into northern Iran. Low clumps of heart-shaped green leaves produce spring flowers in violet to purple, sometimes paler or white, with darker veins drawing the eye towards the centre. The plant has a quiet woodland character and is best appreciated along a shaded path, in a cool rock garden or beneath open shrubs where its compact habit is not overwhelmed. Rarely encountered in cultivation, it is a worthwhile species for collectors able to provide humus-rich soil, steady moisture and summer shade.