Clarkia purpurea, also known as Farewell-to-Spring or Purple Clarkia, is a native wildflower of coastal areas from Washington to Baja California that blooms from March to July. It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows 4-24 inches tall with bright green leaves and purple stems bearing light purple or magenta flowers. The flowers resemble those found in Victorian cottage gardens and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees. Clarkia purpurea grows well in full sun to semi-shade with moist, well-drained soil and requires little to no fertilizer or maintenance beyond thinning seedlings. It is suitable for mixed beds, borders, pots, and as a cut

1. Farewell-to-Spring; Purple Clarkia – Clarkia purpurea
(CLARK-ee-uh purr-PURR-ee-uh)
Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family)
Native to: coastal areas from Washington state to Baja CA; Arizona; coastal strand, coastal slopes
Annual wildflower
mature height: 4-24 in. mature width: 6-8 in.
Erect annual herbaceous plant with simple, elongated bright green leaves and purple stems.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms/fruits: Mar-July. Light purple/magenta flowers along erect stem. Flowers remind one of
Victorian cottage gardens (where they were widely used). Fruit a pod that splits to reveal many tiny
seeds.
Uses in the garden: Very showy in mixed beds, annual borders, pots, baskets. Cut flowers last
several weeks. Lovely mixed with yellow flowered species – truly one of our prettiest wildflowers.
Right at home in an old-fashioned garden or cottage garden. Readily naturalizes from seed.
Sensible substitute for: non-native Godetias
Attracts: Good habitat plant. Flowers attact butterflies, hummingbirds, native bees
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to semi-shade
Grows best on well-drained sandy soils; no pH limitations
Moist soil in spring
Low/none needed
Easy to grow – low maintenance. Stems are thin, so may need staking in windy
areas. Reseeds vigorously on moist bare ground, so may need to thin in early spring.
Management:
from seed: Direct seed outdoors in spring or fall (best in our area). Can also be
started in pots. Seeds germinate in 7-21 days at 70F.
Propagation:
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 10, 13, 16, 19
11/25/10
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