Anoda cristata
Violettas
(c) Leticia Jiménez Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Leticia Jiménez Hernández · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Anoda cristata (Violettas) is a non-native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by . Key features: triangular leaves with purple blotch, simple hairs, bristly fruit, enlarged calyx in fruit.
Violettas is a naturalized perennial found in the San Joaquin Valley, southern California Coast, and desert regions in disturbed places at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from August to November, this plant produces purple-tinged flowers with delicate petals 8 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall that are sparsely bristly, it has a distinctive spreading growth habit. Its leaves are generally triangular to hastate, 2 to 9 centimeters long, often featuring a central purple blotch and slightly toothed edges. The fruit develops in a calyx that expands to 20 to 25 millimeters in diameter, with bristly surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key features: triangular leaves with purple blotch, simple hairs, bristly fruit, enlarged calyx in fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon in disturbed places
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: to southeastern and central United States, South America, Middle East, Australia, perhaps native to Mexico
Bloom period
Anoda cristata blooms Aug-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Malva: Anoda has no bracts below flowers; Malva has 3 small bracts forming a ring below each flower.; vs Sidalcea: Anoda has arrow-shaped or deeply lobed leaves; Sidalcea has palmately lobed leaves with rounded divisions.; vs Malacothamnus: Anoda is an annual weed in disturbed areas; Malacothamnus is a woody chaparral shrub.; vs Malvella: Anoda lacks bracts at flower base and is upright; Malvella has subtle bracts and is prostrate.; vs Eremalche: Anoda completely lacks bracts below flowers; Eremalche has small bracts present.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anoda cristata native to California?
No. Anoda cristata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Anoda cristata bloom?
Anoda cristata blooms Aug-Nov.
What plant family does Anoda cristata belong to?
Anoda cristata is in the Malvaceae family, genus Anoda.
What habitat does Anoda cristata grow in?
Anoda cristata grows in Uncommon in disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.