Clarkia bottae
Punchbowl godetia, Punchbowl Godetia
(c) James M. Maley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia bottae (Punchbowl godetia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by glaucous stems and distinctive flower coloration.
Punchbowl godetia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, central Coast Ranges, southern California coastal areas, and western Transverse Ranges in openings of chaparral, woodland, and coastal scrub at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate fan-shaped petals in pale lavender to pink-lavender, often white toward the base and marked with red flecks. Growing with erect stems up to one meter tall and appearing smooth or slightly powdery blue-green, it develops narrowly lanceolate leaves 3 to 10 centimeters long. Its distinctive flowers feature bowl-shaped corollas with petals 15 to 30 millimeters long and eight stamens, with outer anthers lavender and inner anthers paler. The mature seeds are brown, completing the plant's annual lifecycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; key features are glaucous stems and distinctive flower coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in chaparral, woodland, coastal scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Diego, Mariposa, Fresno, Kern, Santa Clara, San Benito, Alameda, Del Norte
Bloom period
Clarkia bottae blooms Apr-Jul.
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 bottae native to California?
Yes. Clarkia bottae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia bottae bloom?
Clarkia bottae blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Clarkia bottae grow?
Clarkia bottae occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Clarkia bottae belong to?
Clarkia bottae is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia bottae grow in?
Clarkia bottae grows in Openings in chaparral, woodland, coastal scrub.
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.