Clarkia arcuata
Glandular clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia arcuata (Glandular clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by glandular-puberulent ovary and sepals.
Glandular clarkia is a California native annual found in the northern Sierra Nevada and northern California Range Foothills in woodland openings, chaparral, and drying soils including serpentine at elevations up to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink-lavender flowers with a characteristic dark reddish spot at the base, arranged in fan-shaped petals 10 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems up to 80 centimeters tall and minimal to scattered spreading hairs, it has a delicate, upright structure. Its leaves are sessile, narrow and linear to lance-shaped, measuring 1.5 to 6 centimeters in length. The fruit develops 1 to 3.5 centimeters long with a beak less than 7 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key feature is glandular-puberulent ovary and sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in woodland, chaparral, drying soils including serpentine
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: Placer, El Dorado, Butte, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Amador, Sacramento, Tehama, Napa, Shasta, Calaveras, Kern, Nevada
Bloom period
Clarkia arcuata blooms Apr-Jun.
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 arcuata native to California?
Yes. Clarkia arcuata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia arcuata bloom?
Clarkia arcuata blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Clarkia arcuata grow?
Clarkia arcuata occurs in Placer, El Dorado, Butte, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Amador, Sacramento, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Clarkia arcuata belong to?
Clarkia arcuata is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia arcuata grow in?
Clarkia arcuata grows in Openings in woodland, chaparral, drying soils including serpentine.
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.