Viola pinetorum subsp. grisea

Gray-leaved violet, Gray-Leaved Violet

Family: Violaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Gray-leaved violet is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, Western Transverse Ranges, and San Bernardan Mountains in alpine zones and mountain peaks at elevations of 1,980 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces flowers with delicate pale coloration nestled among gray-tomentose foliage. Growing as a compact plant only 4.5 to 9.5 centimeters tall with stems generally buried and barely elongated, it has a distinctive low-growing alpine character. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, measuring 1.7 to 4 centimeters long and 0.3 to 1 centimeter wide, with irregular serrated edges that contribute to its rugged mountain adaptation. The lowest flower petal ranges from 5 to 9 millimeters, perfectly scaled to its diminutive alpine habitat.

Habitat: Mountain peaks, alpine zones

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: 1980-3700 m

Bioregions: s SNH, Teh, WTR, SnBr.

California counties: Tulare, Inyo, Kern, Monterey, Fresno, San Bernardino, Ventura

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.