Plant 6-10 cm. Rhizome short. Leaves long-petiolate, with winged petiole, 2-7 cm long. Flowers large, 2.5-3.0 cm diam., dark violet. One plant bears 8-14 flowers. V - early spring to late autumn, some leaves overwinter. Fl - April (in St. Petersburg May) for 3-5 weeks. Fr - July-August. P - by seed and by cuttings, also self-sown. Grows in semi-shade, on rich soil. Z 4.

Far East (southern regions), Japan and China. In reedgrass meadows on loose, woodland humus-rich soil.