Viola howellii
Howell's violet
(c) John A Haskins, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Violaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Viola howellii (Howell's violet) is a native California herb in the Violaceae family, recognized by . Key features: extremely limited range, short spur, large flowers.
Howell's violet is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges near Joe Bar in Siskiyou County, inhabiting moist, shady areas of conifer forests at elevations of 50 to 1,295 meters. Flowering from April to July, this violet produces soft blue-violet to violet flowers with white bases and dark violet veining, the lower petals 14 to 23 millimeters long with a distinctive bearded appearance. Growing prostrate to erect with 1 to 4 stems up to 44 centimeters tall, it emerges from a woody rhizome and becomes increasingly elongated through the growing season. Its leaves are thin and broadly ovate to kidney-shaped, with 1 to 6 basal leaves featuring heart-shaped bases and crenate edges, typically 2 to 7 centimeters wide. The plant produces elliptic fruits 7 to 11 millimeters long, developing from axillary flowers with slender peduncles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species. Key features: extremely limited range, short spur, large flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shady areas, conifer forest
Elevation: 50-1295 m
Outside California: British Columbia, Oregon, Washington
Bloom period
Viola howellii blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Asarum: Viola flowers sit above ground on stalks; Asarum flowers hide at ground level under heart-shaped leaves.; vs Cardamine: Viola has irregular flowers with a spur; Cardamine has 4-petaled symmetrical flowers.; vs Lycianthes: Viola flowers have a backward spur; Lycianthes has star-shaped flowers with no spur.; vs Pelargonium: Viola has a petal-derived spur; Pelargonium has a sepal-derived spur fused to the flower stalk.; vs Eschscholzia: Viola has 5 petals with one forming a spur; Eschscholzia has 4 separate fan-shaped petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Viola howellii native to California?
Yes. Viola howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Viola howellii bloom?
Viola howellii blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Viola howellii belong to?
Viola howellii is in the Violaceae family, genus Viola.
Is Viola howellii rare or endangered?
Viola howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Viola howellii grow in?
Viola howellii grows in Moist, shady areas, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.