Purple Owl's Clover is a native annual wildflower that grows 1-2 feet tall with pink-purple tufted flower spikes from March to May, attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is suitable for wildflower gardens, prairies, and containers where its showy blooms will be noticed, requiring full sun, sandy soil, and winter/spring watering. Propagation from its very small seeds is easy by sowing directly in the garden in fall or winter.

1. Purple Owl’s Clover – Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta
(cas-till-LAY-uh ex-SERT-uh)
Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)
Southwestern CA & W. Mojave Desert; grasslands, grassy slopes and openings in
chaparral and coastal sage scrub.
Native to:
Annual wildflower mature height: 1 ½ -2 ft.
Low shrubby wildflower with narrowly-lobed leaves. Spring growth.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms Mar-May. Pink-purple tufted flower spikes with
Very interesting and showy – will attract attention!
Bloom/fruit:
capsule.
mature width: 6-12 in.
yellow pouches.
Fruit a
Uses in the garden: Lovely addition to wildflower gardens and prairies; as a ground cover. Good
choice for pots or planters where the flowers will be noticed. Mix with other annuals and native
grasses. Excellent spring accent or in pink-purple themed garden.
Sensible substitute for: non-native spring-flowering annuals
Attracts:
nectar attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds; seeds attract seed-eating birds,
mammals
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade
Sandy or gravelly texture; any pH
Winter/spring; once a month during dry spells
None needed
Medium salt tolerance
Management: easy to grow. Sow seed in prepared bed in fall/winter.
Propagation: from seed: easy; sow in place, barely cover seed. Seed very small.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 5, 10, 13, 16
12/11/13
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