Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Violaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha is a native California herb in the Violaceae family, recognized by Montane distribution with distinctive growth phases.
Yellow violet is a native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and Great Basin bioregions in pine, fir, and cedar forest at elevations of 1,220 to 2,440 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with rounded petals 6 to 11 millimeters long. Growing 3 to 25 centimeters tall with spreading to erect stems that elongate through the growing season, it develops a distinctive branching habit. Its basal leaves are round to ovate, 0.8 to 3 centimeters long, with 3 to 4 rounded lobes on each side and often purple-tinted undersides. The fruits are small capsules 5 to 6.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Montane distribution with distinctive growth phases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pine, fir, cedar forest
Elevation: 1220-2440 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha blooms May-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 purpurea subsp. dimorpha native to California?
Yes. Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha bloom?
Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha belong to?
Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha is in the Violaceae family, genus Viola.
What habitat does Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha grow in?
Viola purpurea subsp. dimorpha grows in Pine, fir, cedar forest.
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.