Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Violaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis is a native California herb in the Violaceae family, recognized by Desert distribution provides strong geographic isolation.
Mojave yellow violet is a California native perennial found in the Tehachapi, Peninsular, eastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert Mountains regions in desert scrub, sagebrush, and dry yellow-pine forest areas at elevations of 900 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces yellow flowers 10 to 14 millimeters long with distinctive purple-tinted petals. Growing 5 to 24 centimeters tall with spreading to erect stems that elongate through the growing season, it develops both basal and cauline leaves. Its leaves are distinctively gray-green to purple-tinted, with 4 to 5 prominent pointed or rounded lobes on each side, ranging from ovate to round and measuring 1 to 4 centimeters long. The plant produces small fruits 5 to 7 millimeters in length, characteristic of violet species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Desert distribution provides strong geographic isolation
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub, sagebrush, dry areas in yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 900-2600 m
Outside California: Nevada, southwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis blooms Mar-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. mohavensis native to California?
Yes. Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis bloom?
Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis blooms Mar-Jul.
What plant family does Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis belong to?
Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis is in the Violaceae family, genus Viola.
What habitat does Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis grow in?
Viola purpurea subsp. mohavensis grows in Desert scrub, sagebrush, dry areas in yellow-pine 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.