Manchurian violet appears in U.S. gardens as a cultivated East Asian wildflower, sometimes with cream-marked leaves in the “Fuji Dawn” selection. Its deep violet flowers rise from the base beside narrow leaves with flattened stalks.
Appearance
Growth form
This has no leafy stem above ground. Leaves and flower stalks rise from the base, usually reaching about 8 in (20 cm).
Leaves
Spring leaves are narrow and taper to a point, about 1.2–3.1 in (3–8 cm) long. The upper part of each leaf stalk is flattened into a narrow wing.
Flowers
A single deep purple flower faces sideways at the end of each slender stalk. The two side petals usually have white hairs near their bases.
Fruit
The fruit splits into three sections and flings out its seeds as it dries.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
sunny grasslands
roadsides
open disturbed ground
Range
It is native to eastern Asia, from the Russian Far East and China to Korea and Japan. In the United States it is grown as a garden violet, including the variegated selection “Fuji Dawn.”
Preferred conditions
In its native range it is often found in open, sunny ground.