Found my own answer in that the tasmanian or trailing violet is a true Viola. I think I am close in proper spelling with Viola hederaciae. I also found the cultivar I am seeking is called 'Baby Blue Eyes' and is a light violet blue. Posted this in the vines forum by mistake but I guess it is sort of a trailing plant. Found interesting native violets listed in my woodlanders catalog.

It is Viola hederacea 'Baby Blue'
I, too, used to think this was called 'Baby Blue Eyes' until I was corrected.
Viola hederacea is undergoing a little revision at the moment; it may be split into several species. Rob Peace knows more than I do on this matter.

True, it would not be totally hardy in NJ. But at least it sets seed more freely than the normal species sold as V. hederacea, so you might be able to keep it going by seed. But they do nicely in cool conservatories, so you could try potting it up come winter, as an alternative.

thanks, mike, for helping with that one!
Baby Blue is indeed part of the 'hederacea complex', but the origin of that form is not tasmania. more likely it is northern new south wales or southern queensland.

the violet widely sold as v. hederacea, has now been split out from hederacea and now goes under the name v. banksii.

mike, are you still at the same address? i recently uncovered the paper on this subject i intended to bring to you last year.

rob...

Thanks for the info, but I am still seeking a source.

Rob - yes - same address - thanks in advance!

Rob -
Mucho thanks for the paper, received today - excellent!
And the enclosures were a very nice surprise; thanks more!

I know this thread is old, but, did anyone ever find a source for the blue form of Viola Banksii?

Hello,
Just in case anyone is interested in the Tasmanian Violet and haven't found it yet Logees is having an end of summer sale and has it for $3.95.
It is an awesome plant. I had one several years ago and it was close to 5 ft long and in constant bloom. No one knows where the one I had is. It just disappeared one day. I ordered 3.
Doris