Clarkia unguiculata – elegant clarkia – California wildflower Annual – Mountain Garland
Tweet ThisClarkia unguiculata – elegant clarkia – California wildflower Annual flowers have hairy, fused sepals forming a cup beneath the corolla, and four petals each one to 2.5 centimeters long. This flower with its pink, red or purple flowers arching gracefully in a bouquet for almost a month. One of the wildflowers that can out-compete weedy grasses. the selected form of this annual….makes a showy addition.
California native plants are an acquired taste, but there are exceptions to the rules. Clarkia unguiculata is an excellent plant for color splash in your garden. The flower lasts over a month and they are drought tolerant. In fact, if you water it too much, you will lose flowers. They attract humming birds and other insects. In general, annuals die at the end of the season; therefore, they need to make enough seeds to perpetuate the species. This means they need to make a ton of seeds which in turn makes a ton of flowers. Perennials come back from year to year, so they are more lazy.
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How to plant:
They are almost impossible to buy in 6 packs. You will have to grow them from seeds. Buy the seeds online before February and plant in flats. They germinate when there is a consistent amount of moisture in the soil. Plant them out in the garden (for instance in the front yard) just before the last rain of the winter season.
Watering:
Water until the plant is established and back off. They like dry heat. Plant them in direct sunlight. Great for pots.
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