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Viola purpurea

goosefoot violet

Violaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Viola purpurea is a low-growing perennial wildflower reaching 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) tall and spreading 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) wide from a woody rootstock. Despite the common name goosefoot violet, the flowers are yellow, measuring 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, with the backs of the upper petals tinged brownish-purple and the lower petals marked by purple veins near the throat. Leaves are thick and somewhat fleshy, gray-green to green, often with purple undersides, and range from rounded to ovate with shallowly toothed margins. The plant forms compact clumps rather than spreading by runners. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer, tracking snowmelt at higher elevations. It grows on dry, open slopes, gravelly flats, and the understory of pine and sagebrush communities, and tolerates lean, rocky soils. Several subspecies span the range and differ in leaf shape and hairiness. The species needs sharp drainage and full to partial sun; it declines in heavy, wet soils and dense shade, which limits its use in irrigated borders.

Native Range

Viola purpurea is native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia south through California and east into the Rocky Mountain states, including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, and Arizona. It grows on dry slopes, gravelly flats, and open coniferous and sagebrush communities from foothills to subalpine elevations.

Suggested Uses

Used in rock gardens, gravel gardens, and native plant or alpine plantings on dry, sunny sites. Suited to slopes and lean soils where many perennials struggle. Spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart in groups.

How to Identify

The yellow flowers with brownish-purple petal backs and purple-veined throats identify Viola purpurea despite its purple-suggesting common name. Leaves are thick and gray-green, often purple beneath, with rounded to ovate blades and shallowly toothed edges. The plant grows in tight clumps from a woody base rather than producing creeping stolons. Plants are small, rarely exceeding 8 inches (20 cm) tall.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 8"

Width/Spread4" - 10"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs in spring and early summer, generally March to July depending on elevation. At higher sites, bloom tracks snowmelt and may begin later. Each plant carries several flowers above the foliage over a few weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to partial shade in lean, gravelly, sharply drained soil. This species tolerates drought once established and is adapted to dry montane and sagebrush sites. Heavy, wet, or poorly drained soils cause rot and decline. No supplemental fertilizer is required, and rich soils tend to reduce flowering. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-8 and withstands cold mountain winters under snow cover. Plants are short-lived but self-sow where conditions suit them.

Pruning

Remove spent flower stems to keep plants tidy and to limit unwanted self-sowing. Cut back tattered foliage after flowering if it declines in summer heat. No structural pruning is needed.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic