Western Heart's Ease

Western Heart's Ease is a spreading, ground-level herb. The dark-green heart-shaped leaves are borne on short stems, which attach to long central stems, which measure 5-37 cm long. On the long upright stem is a single flower with five white petals with yellow bases. The lowest three petals are veined with purple and the two top ones with purple spots. The inside of the flower has long hairs; the outer surfaces of the petals (at least the two upper petals) are typically stained purple or dark red. The minuscule seeds of this plant are encased in small spherical capsules.

Basic Information

• Member of the Violaceae family

• Perennial herb

Habitat

• Native to the northern and central California, as well as southern Oregon

• Primarily grows in coastal foothills and mountain ranges, in grassy banks, thickets, and rocky areas

Ecological Role

• Host plant for the Butterfly Boloria epithore

Reproduction

• Blooms from March to July

Alternative Names

• Pinto-violet, two-eyed violet