Bloomipedia
Hookedspur violet (Viola adunca)
Photo: John Brew via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Hookedspur violet

Viola adunca

Hookedspur violet (Viola adunca) is a flowering plant in the Violaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Hookedspur violet is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

23states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
7,561U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Quick look

Viola adunca is a species of violet known by the common names hookedspur violet, early blue violet, sand violet, and western dog violet. It is native to meadows and forests of western North America, Canada, and the northern contiguous United States.

  • It belongs to the Violaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 555 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #78 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 481 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #76 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 290 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #99 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (780 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MontanaNativefew records (39)555
IdahoNativefew records (28)481
WyomingNativefew records (20)290

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S1), IA (S1), NE (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records hookedspur violet in 23 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Custer, Daniels, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Powell, Prairie, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gooding, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Shoshone, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie, Weston.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 434 counties across 22 states; the most are in Wisconsin (42), Michigan (40), California (37).

Other Viola on Bloomipedia (14): Violets, Smooth yellow violet, Bird's foot violet, Canada violet, American field pansy, Stream violet, Cream violet, Halberd-leaved violet, Long-spurred violet, Primrose-leaved violet.

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Sources