1. * Farewell-to-spring / Godetia – Clarkia amoena
(KLAR-kee-uh am-oh-EN-uh )
Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)
Northern coast from San Francisco Bay to British Columbia; open, drying places, in
coastal scrub, prairies and dry open coastal slopes and bluffs < 2000 ft. elevation.
Native to:
annual wildflower
mature height: 2-3 ft.
mature width: 2-3 ft.
Spring-blooming annual wildflower with an open, branched habit. Leaves and stems medium to
blue-green – often tinged with red – smooth. Leaves simple. Dies after flowering.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms spring into summer in its native range – usually Apr-June in S. CA but may
extend into summer with garden water.
Flowers are amazing shades of magenta and pink on
wand-like flowering stalks. One of the showiest California Clarkias. For vivid, intense pinks this
species is unrivalled – like Purple Clarkia on steriods! Bloom season lasts 2-3 months.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Must-have annual for the Cottage Style garden, where it thrives in mid- to
back-bed. Lovely along walkways and charming as a container plant. Makes a stunning cut flower.
Combine with native grasses for a meadow or prairie. Good for dry places. Will naturalize.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native spring annuals.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: attracts butterflies & other insect pollinators & birds love seeds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part shade.
Likes sandy soils but will grow in any local texture, pH.
Adequate water until flowering wanes; then taper water to none (Zone 1)
Not needed but OK
No mulch – or use an inorganic mulch like gravel or crushed rock.
Management:
Allow seeds to ripen on plants. Collect or let plants reseed naturally; then remove
dead stalks.
Propagation: from seed: easy in garden site in fall (may be difficult to transplant); barely cover.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 19
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co.
5/1/11
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