Purple clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)

Clarkia purpurea is a species of wildflower in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family known by the common names Winecup Clarkia, Winecup Fairyfan, and Purple Clarkia. This plant is native to western North America where it is found in a variety of habitats. Within California it is very widespread, occurring all along the coast, in the Coast Ranges, Central Valley and Sierra foothills. There are three subspecies with differences in the flower color and with overlapping ranges. This plant erects a thin reddish stem which may approach a meter in height and has a few lance-shaped leaves. The bowl-shaped flowers have four petals usually one to two centimeters long and in shades of pink, purple, or deep wine red, often with a streak or spot of pink or red in the middle. In the garden it is almost always grown from seed and is included in many commercially available wildflower seed mixes. From Calscape.

Growers: Heritage Growers

Other Names Used: Winecup Clarkia

Family: Onagraceae

Life Cycle: Annual

Plant Type: Herb

Sun Exposure: Full

Bloom Period: Spring, Summer (April to July)

Bloom Color(s): Pink, Red

Plant Height: 3 feet tall

Plant Width: 1 foot wide

California Regions:

• San Francisco Bay Area
• North Coast
• Central Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sierra Nevada
• Central California Coast
• Southern Coast
• Southern California Inland

Ecological Benefits:

• Drought Tolerant
• Attracts pollinators, birds, wildlife

Ecological Functions:

• Grows in Containers
• Groundcover

Habitat Type:

• Chaparral
• Valley Grassland
• Coastal Strand
• Northern Coastal Scrub
• Yellow Pine Forest
• Mixed Evergreen Forest
• FoothillWoodland 

Human Uses/Cautions: 

Skill Level: Beginner

Seed Pretreatment: None