Bloomipedia
Nuttall's violet (Viola nuttallii)
Photo: Robert Hoard via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Nuttall's violet

Viola nuttallii

Nuttall's violet (Viola nuttallii) is a flowering plant in the Violaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native to Colorado

Nuttall's violet is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Colorado it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

10states where USDA records it
2,157CO sightings*
2,510U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado

Quick look

Viola nuttallii is a perennial herbaceous plant in the violet family (Violaceae), and is one of the few violet species with lanceolate leaves. It is native to the western Canada and the north-central and western United States, appearing in upper steppe lands, forests, and alpine ridges.

  • 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 10 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,157 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #74 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Colorado, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Colorado (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (123 records)

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
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MN (S2). (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 nuttall's violet in 10 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Baca, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gunnison, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mesa, Otero, Sedgwick, Summit, Weld, Yuma.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 175 counties across 10 states; the most are in Montana (42), Idaho (24), Colorado (20).

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

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Sources