Horticultural cultivar of Japanese origin, this compact perennial is likely derived from Viola grypoceras or a close hybrid, a group well represented in the flora of Japanese undergrowth. Its exact origin and precise parentage are not always clearly documented in Western sources.
It forms a low, spreading rosette, reaching 8 to 12 cm in height when in bloom. Its most remarkable feature is its deeply cut foliage, with toothed lobes, a dark green traversed by marbling and silvery reflections that earned it its name. This foliage texture is decorative well beyond the flowering period.
The flowers, borne on slender peduncles often tinged with purple, are pinkish lilac to pale violet, with marked violet veins on the lower petals. The flowering extends from early spring until May in cultivation under our climates.
It thrives in cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil, in shade or partial shade, conditions reminiscent of its original environment. It is suitable for woodland gardens, shaded rockeries, and containers in cool locations.