The Punch-bowl Clarkia is an annual wildflower native to coastal California from Monterey County to San Diego. It grows 1-2 feet tall with sparse, gray-green leaves and large light purple-pink flowers with white centers and magenta speckles that bloom from spring to summer. It is well-suited for use in native plant gardens, containers, and around larger shrubs due to its lovely flowers and ability to attract pollinators and hummingbirds. The Punch-bowl Clarkia prefers full sun to part shade and average soil, and needs good water in the winter and spring but can be tapered off in the summer.

1. Punch-bowl Clarkia – Clarkia bottae
(KLAR-kee-uh BOT-ee (or bot-TAY) )
Family: Onagraceae (Willowherb Family)
Native to: Coastal CA foothills from Monterey County to San Diego. Locally in Santa Monica Mtns;
endemic to dry openings in Coastal Sage Scrub, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest,
Southern Oak Woodland, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral below about 3000 ft. elevation.
annual wildflower
mature height: 1-2 ft.
mature width: 1-2 ft.
Erect to sprawling – stems may be stout or slender. Sparse, narrow leaves are slightly hairy. Leaf
color gray-green to medium green – similar to Clarkia purpurea – sometimes with red or purple.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms from spring into summer – usually April to June or July in western L.A.
county. Flowers quite large (about 1 inch across) and open for Clarkia. Flowers a light purple-pink
at the edges grading to white near base – often with magenta-colored speckles (freckles). Very
showy and different enough from Clarkia prupurea to make it interesting.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Mostly used in flower gardens – for its lovely flowers. Good choice for local
native mixed prairie or wildflower gardens.
Good habitat plant.
Wonderful plant for floral
arrangements. Good filler plant around larger shrubs.
Lovely choice for containers. ‘Lilac Pixie’ is
a short (to 10 inch) cultivar that’s becoming available.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Godetias.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: attracts native pollinators, butterflies, hummingbirds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade.
Any local texture, pH.
Needs good water in winter/spring for establishment. Taper off water at end of
bloom season. Can extend blooming with occasional water.
None needed, but would gladly accept it.
Use inorganic mulch (gravel) or none to allow it to re-seed.
Management:
Easy to grow. Collect seeds or allow to re-seed naturally. Not a heavy re-seeder.
Propagation: from seed: Needs no pre-treatment. Plant in fall/winter right before a rain.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16
4/4/13
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