This is a wonderful hardy annual from the central California coast ranges and foot hills. Its closely allied to our native Clarkia amoena var lindleyi and though a bit taller the most conspicuous difference is the base of large pink cup shaped flowers are stained in bright red. Thats where it gets its descriptive common name of Claret Cup Farewell to spring. To 32″ tall if forms a candelabra of 2″ flowers that point upwards. The bright red on the base of the petals act as a nectary guide, think of this as landing lights for pollinators. Blooms June to August and it makes a large plant. The flowers spikes make long lasting cut flowers. LOVED by carpenter bees who will cut circles out of the petals to line their nests. So cute. Re seeds in open disturbed sites or even better a gravel mulch. Mix with all other native hardy annuals. Great long blooming container plant. No supplemental irrigation required. Very long blooming. Seeds germinate in early autumn and overwinter as tiny plants.
Genus: Clarkia
Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera
AKA Four spot Clarkia or Four spot wine cup, also Godetia. This charming little native hardy annual occupies warm, somewhat dry spots at low elevations west of the Cascades. The flowers are slightly smaller than Clarkia amoena var. lindleyi but it is profuse. Flowers line thin stems and inbetween the very willowy leaves a cup shaped flower with four petals. It ranges from light to dark pink and there is a darker pink swish at the base of each petal. This is known as a nectary guide and its like a landing pad for pollinators. Blooms appear from late May through July. To 14″ tall on average, depending upon the fertility of the soil. Re-seeds happily and the first seedlings which are slightly downy will appear after fall rains begin. Full sun to the very lightest shade. Flowers close on cloudy days. No supplemental water is necessary . Mix with Gilia capitata, Limnanthes alba. and Plectritis congesta with whom it decorates undisturbed meadows. Not a good cut flower, very feral but beautiful and losing its native environment very fast. Excels in a gravel mulch. Excellent for native pollinators and very important to native bees. Oregon native plant
Clarkia amoena ssp. lindleyi
Farewell to Spring is so called because it is one of the last conspicuous native wildflowers to bloom before the onset of summer drought. And bloom it does all the way to late August. Its seen in mass populations waving above the already sear grass on hillsides that dot the valley. Little water is needed but a little supplemental water and removing spent flowers will extend the show. Otherwise it will die upon setting seed. The 2′ tall stems support multiple luminous pink cup shaped flowers. They appear superficially like a poppy. This is the variety that is locally native in the Portland area. The distinctly lavender pink flowers fade to a lighter interior near the center. But it will also appear with a darker pink/red blotch in the center of each petal on a minority of seedlings. These assist in guiding pollinators and this plant is a prime source for all native bees and butterflies. Excellent cut flower that lasts for quite a while in a vase. This is the source species of all the fancy cultivars that are raised in the cut flower trade. Reseeds happily in open disturbed sites. Excellent plant for wild areas and is often employed on road cuts and freeway embankments in deliberately sown wild flower mixtures. I’ve noticed that this local subspecies re-sows itself annually where other subspecies and especially the showy florist varieties are shy to do so. If you want a robust, climate adapted wildflower then go with this subspecies. It comes back strong. Probably our showiest and longest blooming native annual. Reseeds- leave stems to dry and disperse seed and remember to leave open spaces for next years show. Wonderful with yellow Madia elegans for a months long display of brilliant native annuals. A Xera favorite plant. See video below (IMG) taken at the William Finley Wildlife Refuge just south of Corvallis. Oregon native plant.
Clarkia amoena ‘Dwarf White’
Excellent little selection of our locally native wildflower ‘Farewell to Spring’. To just 10″ tall this plant(s) become a solid dome of white flowers from May-August. Cute little cut flower. Full sun in rich, to average well drained soil with just light competition from other plants. Re-seeds reliably in open disturbed sites. A great native derivative for hell strips and even containers. Regular summer water – or it will shut down go dormant and think its time to set seed and then make its melon. Rough areas, cut flower. Oregon native plant.
Clarkia amoena ‘Dwarf Pink’
Farewell-to-spring is a common wildflower of meadows and glens in Western Oregon. It gets its name because it is often the last wildflower to bloom before the summer drought ends the show. This form differs by its pure pink profuse flowers on a dwarf plant. (The wild form is lavender with a red blotch in the center of each petal.). An amazing display of bloom that appears as if someone dropped a bouquet on the ground. You see no evidence of leaves when its in full fettle. Blooms June to October in a garden setting with regular summer water and rich soil and the gardeners diligence removing spent flowers. Reseeds in open disturbed soil. to 10″ tall and a little wider forming a dome. Nice cut flower. Fun variation on a native. Very attractive to native pollinators. True hardy annual. Oregon native plant.