Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by decumbent habit, dense inflorescence, and coastal habitat.
Clarkia amoena is a California native annual found in northern Coast and northern central Coast bioregions on open coastal slopes and bluffs at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces large showy pink to magenta petals 20 to 35 millimeters long in dense, compact inflorescences. Growing with decumbent stems that spread low across the ground, it forms delicate, sprawling clusters. Its leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, contributing to the plant's graceful, open structure. The flowers have a distinctive cylindric ovary with four prominent grooves, creating an elegant botanical profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinguished by decumbent habit, dense inflorescence, and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open slopes, bluffs on or near coast
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, San Mateo, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Lake, Colusa, Fresno, Plumas, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tuolumne, San Diego
Bloom period
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Clarkia seeds lack a hair tuft and its petals are broad, often clawed or lobed; Epilobium and Chamerion have seeds bearing a tuft of silky hairs and long, thin capsules.; vs Oenothera: Clarkia flowers are pink to lavender-purple and its buds nod before opening; Oenothera flowers are generally yellow (or white), larger, and open at dusk.; vs Camissonia: Clarkia petals are pink-purple, often fan-shaped or lobed with a distinct claw; Camissonia and Camissoniopsis have yellow, unlobed petals.; vs Sidalcea: Clarkia has 4 petals, an inferior ovary, and a 4-lobed stigma; Sidalcea (checkerbloom) has 5 petals, a superior ovary, and a central mallow staminal column.; vs Gayophytum: Clarkia is showy with petals 10-35 mm; Gayophytum has minute white-to-pink flowers only a few mm across on thread-like branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena native to California?
Yes. Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena bloom?
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena grow?
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena occurs in Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, San Mateo, Del Norte, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena belong to?
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena grow in?
Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena grows in Open slopes, bluffs on or near coast.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.