Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Violaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum is a native California herb in the Violaceae family, recognized by . Key features: yellow flowers, narrow leaves, montane conifer habitat.
Pine violet is a California native perennial found in the Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains in vernally moist soils, often under conifer forests at elevations of 1,400 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from late May to late July, this plant produces delicate purple-tinted flowers with petals 6 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with spreading to erect stems 6.5 to 22 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive plant structure that remains low to the ground. Its leaves are primarily basal, with blades 1.3 to 5 centimeters long, ranging from linear to ovate, often with jagged or irregularly serrate edges and a notable purple tint on the undersides. The plant appears glabrous to slightly hairy, with a canescent (grayish-white) appearance that helps it blend into its high-elevation conifer forest habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species. Key features: yellow flowers, narrow leaves, montane conifer habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernally moist soil, often under conifers
Elevation: 1400-3100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, Mariposa, Lake, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Alpine, Kern, Fresno, Mono, Riverside, Inyo, El Dorado, Amador, Placer, Modoc, Tuolumne, Plumas, Butte, Sierra, Nevada, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum blooms Late May-late Jul.
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 pinetorum subsp. pinetorum native to California?
Yes. Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum bloom?
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum blooms Late May-late Jul.
Where in California does Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum grow?
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, Mariposa, Lake, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 1400-3100 m.
What plant family does Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum belong to?
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum is in the Violaceae family, genus Viola.
What habitat does Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum grow in?
Viola pinetorum subsp. pinetorum grows in Vernally moist soil, often under conifers.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.