Hooveria purpurea
Purple amole
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Family: Agavaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hooveria purpurea (Purple amole) is a native California herb in the Agavaceae family.
Purple amole is a California native perennial found in rocky or grassland habitats of coastal and interior mountain ranges at elevations between 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces deep blue to purple flowers 5 to 7 millimeters long with gracefully recurved perianth parts and yellow stamens. Growing from a small white to brown-scaled bulb 2.5 to 3 centimeters in size, it develops slender stems with an unbranched or sparingly branched inflorescence 10 to 40 centimeters tall. Its leaves are basal, narrow and linear, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters wide. The mature fruit is approximately 3 millimeters long.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Mateo, Monterey, San Luis Obispo
Frequently asked questions
Is Hooveria purpurea native to California?
Yes. Hooveria purpurea is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Hooveria purpurea grow?
Hooveria purpurea occurs in San Mateo, Monterey, San Luis Obispo.
What plant family does Hooveria purpurea belong to?
Hooveria purpurea is in the Agavaceae family, genus Hooveria.
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.