Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba
Photo: parent species Clarkia biloba · (c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by purple-pink petals with length < 1.5 × width and prominent lobes.
Two-lobe clarkia is a California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills and eastern San Francisco Bay Area in foothill woodland habitats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate purple-pink flowers with petals slightly longer than their width, featuring distinctive petal lobes. Growing with slender stems to approximately 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it has an upright, branching form. Its leaves are narrowly lanceolate, tapering to a point and arranged alternately along the stem. When mature, the plant develops small seed capsules typical of the clarkia genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; distinguished by purple-pink petals with length < 1.5 × width and prominent lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Foothill woodland, serpentine or not
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Amador, Tuolumne, Mariposa, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Placer, Calaveras, Plumas, Nevada, Butte, Sacramento
Bloom period
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba blooms May-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 biloba subsp. biloba native to California?
Yes. Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba bloom?
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba grow?
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba occurs in Amador, Tuolumne, Mariposa, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Placer, Calaveras, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba belong to?
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba grow in?
Clarkia biloba subsp. biloba grows in Foothill woodland, serpentine or not.
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.