Viola tricolor
Heartsease
an annual or perennial member of the Viola genus in the family Violaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[1]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[20][3]. A tea can be made from the leaves[20]. The small attractive flowers are added to salads or used as a garnish[8].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Heartsease has a long history of herbal use and was at one time in high repute as a treatment for epilepsy, asthma, skin diseases and a wide range of other complaints[15]. In modern herbalism it is seen as a purifying herb and is taken internally in the treatment of skin complaints such as eczema[13]. The herb is anodyne, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, cardiac, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative and vulnerary[15][19][21][2][11][16][4]. Being expectorant, it is used in the treatment of various chest complaints such as bronchitis and whooping cough, whilst its diuretic action makes it useful for treating rheumatism, cystitis and difficulty in passing urine[13]. It is also used as an ointment for treating eczema and other skin complaints and is also useful in cases of rheumatism, bed-wetting etc[15][21]. The plant is harvested from June to August and dried for later use[15]. The root is emetic[19]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the entire plant[15]. It is used in the treatment of cutaneous eruptions[15].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Antiasthmatic
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Cardiac
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Emollient
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Yellow, green and blue-green dyes are obtained from the flowers[5]. The leaves can be used in place of litmus in testing for acids and alkalis[15].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Litmus
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Corsica, W. Asia, Siberia, Caucasus.
- Habitat
- Cultivated and waste ground, short grassland etc, mainly on acid and neutral soils[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. The plant is a short-lived perennial and division is not that worthwhile.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds[14][17]. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high[10]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5[10]. A very variable species[15]. It is normally an annual plant, but it is sometimes a short-lived perennial[9]. A good bee plant[12]. Grows well with rye but dislikes growing with wheat[7]. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[18][20][3].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2