Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Viola purpurea is a species of violet which bears yellow flowers. It is known commonly as the goosefoot violet. It is a small plant which bears thick to fleshy toothed or ridged oval leaves which are mostly green but may have a purplish tint to them. The flowers are made up of bright yellow petals, the lowermost being streaked or veined with purple and the lateral petals with purplish undersides. There are several subspecies, most of which are known by the common name goosefoot violet. These subspecies are found across the western United States from Wyoming to California. It is a member of the chaparral plant community and the foothills and low elevation mountains.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Purple

Special uses

Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Site type

Grassy slopes and meadows

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Northern Juniper Woodland, Red Fir Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

7 confirmed and 14 likely

Confirmed Likely

Callippe Fritillary

Speyeria callippe

Coronis Fritillary

Speyeria coronis

Egleis Fritillary

Speyeria egleis