Viola helenae is a small, unbranched subshrub with an erect stem 30 to 80 cm (1.0 to 2.5 ft) tall in the violet family (Violaceae). The hairless leaves are clustered on the upper part of the stem, lance-shaped, 7.5 to 13.0 cm (3.0 to 5.0 in) long and 2.0 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1.0 in) wide. A pair of narrow, membranous stipules (leaf-like structures) 1.3 cm (0.5 in) long occurs below each leaf. The small, pale lavender or white flowers are less than 1.0 cm (0.4 in) long, and are produced on stems about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) long, either singly or in pairs in the leaf axils. Flowers and immature fruits occur in April, and mature fruits in October. The fruit is a capsule 1.1 cm (0.5 in) long that splits open at maturity, releasing the pale olive brown seeds 1.5 mm (0.1 in) long.