Clarkia is a genus of flowering annual plants that contains 40 different species. With one exception that is native to South America ( C. tenella ), the plants are native to western North America. Clarkia typically grow to 2 to 3 feet high, with some species longer.. The genus is named after Captain William Clark, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the common name, "Farewell-to-Spring" relates to the fact that the plants bloom at the end of the wildflower season. Seeds can be sown lightly on the surface as they need light to germinate. This plant requires excellent soil drainage, full sun or light shade, and prefers cool night temperatures and light, sandy soil with modest fertility. When planting, allow 8 to 10 inches in spacing. Allow to dry out between waterings. Its season is summer to frost, unless exposed to high temperatures. The flowers resemble hollyhock and can be white, pink, or red and many species are spotted. The leaves tend to be small. These plants provide habitat for pollinators, such as the Clarkia bee that relies exclusively on the plant. Use in a pollinator, cutting or drought-tolerant garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are small and simple, from 1/3 of an inch to 3 inches in length depending on the species.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut
Flower detail
Flowers have four sepals and four petals, usually white, pink, or red, and are often spotted or streaked and appear as hollyhock-type spires of double blooms on long stems.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Elongated, cylindrical pods, usually 4-grooved or 8-grooved, holding many tiny, cubical seeds.
Stem detail
Stems on some varieties can be week and may need some support in the garden.