Top 10 Must-Have Tropical Plants for Queensland Gardens
Viola Hederacea - Native Violet
Description:
Viola hederacea, commonly known as the Australian Native Violet, is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover valued for its delicate, heart-shaped foliage and charming violet and white flowers. Its spreading habit and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions make it a versatile choice for creating lush, carpet-like coverage in shaded or semi-shaded areas. It is ideal for filling gaps between pavers, softening garden edges, or as a lawn alternative in low-traffic areas.
Flowers:
The plant produces small, dainty flowers with violet-purple upper petals and white lower petals. Flowering occurs from spring to autumn, with sporadic blooms appearing throughout the year in favourable conditions.
Foliage:
The leaves are soft, rounded to heart-shaped, and bright green, forming a dense mat of lush greenery. This foliage provides a fresh and vibrant backdrop for the delicate flowers.
Fruit:
Small seed capsules may form after flowering, though they are not a significant feature.
Form and Size:
Viola hederacea is a prostrate ground cover that typically grows to a height of 5–10 cm, spreading widely over time. Its creeping habit makes it perfect for covering large areas or trailing over the edges of containers.
Growing Conditions:
- Position: Prefers partial shade to full shade but can tolerate filtered sunlight. Direct sun in hotter climates may scorch the foliage.
- Soil: Thrives in moist, well-drained soils enriched with organic matter. It tolerates a variety of soil types, including sandy and loamy soils.
- Watering: Requires regular watering to establish and benefits from consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods.
- Climate: Suited to temperate and subtropical climates. It tolerates light frost and mild coastal conditions.
Uses:
Viola hederacea is perfect for ground cover in shaded gardens, underplanting trees and shrubs, or filling gaps between pavers. It can also be used as a soft lawn alternative in low-traffic areas or as a trailing plant in containers and hanging baskets.
Maintenance:
- Requires minimal maintenance. Trim back runners occasionally to control spread or rejuvenate the plant.
- Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Fertilize with a diluted liquid fertilizer during the growing season to encourage lush growth and flowering.
Notes:
Viola hederacea is a hardy and fast-growing ground cover that provides excellent weed suppression and soil stabilization. Its delicate flowers and lush foliage create a natural, woodland feel in any garden setting.
Companion Plants:
Pair with ferns, clivias, or hellebores for a cohesive, shaded garden design. Combine with contrasting textures like Lomandra or Ophiopogon for visual interest.
Common Name: Australian Native Violet
Botanical Name: Viola hederacea
Family: Violaceae
Origin: Australia
As we cannot guarantee stock all year around on Pots & Plants please hit us up via the chat button and we can get back to you with availability
Quantity:
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Delivery Options
- We Offer a local Sunshine Coast delivery service in our Truck.
- Orders placed before Tuesday 9.00am will be Delivered on Wednesday and or Friday of that week on the Sunshine Coast.
- For more information on Deliveries outside the Sunshine Coast please click here
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-store however we can either order it in or deliver it to your door. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into store soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
- the above information is exactly the same for Pots. they come and go all year around so please send us a message via the chat button and we will get back to you with availability
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
- Visit us instore and get the right advice the first time to make your plants succeed
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use Rocky Point potting mixes to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use Rocky Point garden soil around your plants at the time of planting