Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis
Western white bog violet, Western White Bog Violet
(c) Zihao Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zihao Wang · licence
Family: Violaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis (Western white bog violet) is a native California herb in the Violaceae family, recognized by 0 sympatric species.
Western white bog violet is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northwestern Klamath Ranges near Gasquet in Del Norte County, inhabiting marshes and bogs at elevations of 100 to 500 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces white flowers with purple-veined lower petals and delicate, bearded lateral petals. Growing to 20 centimeters tall from thin rhizomes that spread by summer stolons, it develops prostrate to ascending leaves. Its simple basal leaves are lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 1.5 to 7 centimeters long with crenate or serrate edges, typically tapering at the base with an acute or rounded tip. The fruit is an elliptic capsule 5 to 8 millimeters long, containing small beige to bronze seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes, bogs often with
Elevation: 100-500 m
California counties: Del Norte
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis blooms Apr-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 primulifolia subsp. occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis bloom?
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis grow?
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis occurs in Del Norte, at elevations of 100-500 m.
What plant family does Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis belong to?
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis is in the Violaceae family, genus Viola.
Is Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis rare or endangered?
Viola primulifolia subsp. occidentalis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.