[5] This rhizomatous perennial herb grows up to 30 centimeters in maximum height.

The thick, fleshy leaf blades are lance-shaped to oval with pointed or rounded tips, the basal ones up to 8.5 centimeters long and those higher on the stem the same or slightly longer.

The leaf blades are often coated densely in hairs and are borne on long petioles.

A solitary flower is borne on a long, upright stem.

[4] There are three subspecies:[6] Viola praemorsa is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada; to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, California, Nevada, and Colorado in the U.S.[3] It occurs on mountain slopes, usually where forests or grassy meadows are present, in moist or dry soil.