A trailing sub-shrubby plant in Britain usually dying back in winter, probably evergreen in S. Europe, of spreading growth, quite glabrous in leaf and stem. Leaves ovate, broadly wedge-shaped or rounded at the base, more tapered towards the apex, 11⁄2 to 3 in. long, 3⁄4 to 2 in. wide, entire, rich green on both surfaces, but rather paler beneath; stalk e to 1⁄3 in. long. Flowers solitary in the leaf-axils, produced in November and December on stalks 1 to 11⁄2 in. long. Corolla 11⁄2 in. across, very pale lilac-blue, the lobes obovate or rather rhomboidal, pointed; calyx-lobes awl-shaped, 1⁄4 in. long. Fruit awl-shaped, 11⁄2 in. long, Bot. Mag., t. 8506.
Native of southwest Europe as far east as Italy, and of northwest Africa. It resembles V. major in general appearance, but is easily distinguished by the absence of hairs on stem and leaf-margin and by the non-ciliate sepals. It is not so hardy as V. major, and at Kew it flowers too late to expand properly out-of-doors, but taken up and put under glass provides a continuous display during the darkest months of the year.