This little gem looks dainty but it hides incredible toughness behind this veneer of small size and delicate beauty. Small, round foliage emerges in early spring, purplish-green and showy forming a small, dense, spreading mound that is attractive without flowers. Combine the foliage color with the small, lavender violet flowers that begin to appear in early May and you have a colorful little package that butterflies love and that tolerates partial to full shade without missing a beat. This plant loves to be planted in groups toward the front of landscape areas or in small spaces, and even provides some fireworks when grown in a mixed container on a deck, and is an essential element to any native plant or woodland shade garden.