Clarkia biloba
Two lobed clarkia
(c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia biloba (Two lobed clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by distinctive 2-lobed petals.
Two lobed clarkia is a California native annual found in California's central and coastal regions in grasslands and oak woodlands at moderate elevations. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to bright pink or magenta flowers with distinctive two-lobed petals often marked with red flecks. Growing with erect stems up to one meter tall and covered in fine soft hairs, the plant has delicate linear to lanceolate leaves measuring 2 to 6 centimeters long. Its petals are 10 to 25 millimeters long, with outer stamens displaying lavender anthers and inner stamens slightly smaller and paler. The flowers emerge with pendulous buds and a recurved inflorescence axis, creating an elegant and distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; key feature is distinctive 2-lobed petals
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Amador, Placer, Nevada, Kern, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Butte
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 biloba native to California?
Yes. Clarkia biloba is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Clarkia biloba grow?
Clarkia biloba occurs in Los Angeles, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Amador, Placer and other counties.
What plant family does Clarkia biloba belong to?
Clarkia biloba is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
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.